Just try and imagine what it would have been like. Go back to December 7, 1941- 68 years ago today. Something is about to transpire that will change the course of history. President Roosevelt said that it's a date that will live in infamy. People throughout the United States were going about their normal lives. I would imagine that many of them were preparing for Christmas celebrations that were coming up in a few weeks, just like we are doing this year. And then the unthinkable happened. History changed course almost instantly. Lives were altered and no one would be the same again. The Japanese navy proceed to carry out an unannounced military strike against the naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. It was intended as a blow against American morale, which might discourage further fighting and enable Japan to conquer Southeast Asia without interference. Instead, it awakened a sleeping giant. Making battleships the main target was a means of striking at morale, since they were the prestige ships of any navy at the time. It resulted in the United States entry into World War II.
Just think what it would have been like if you were a young man or the mother or father of a young man. You would probably realize that soon, more than likely within the year, your son or daughter could become part of that fight. You would probably realize that this could be their last Christmas at home for a long time. Maybe forever. I can't even imagine how that must have felt to millions of families all across our land. The realization that they were about to become part of those fighting for our freedoms, even at the risk of their own lives.
My Dad and my father-in-law are veterans of WWII. Their lives changed that day along with thousands of others. They were drafted into the cause of taking up the fight for freedom.
In October we went to see the World War II memorial in Washington DC. It's an impressive sight. It was dedicated on Veterans day in 1995. Check out the web site here for the memorial.
There are moving quotes engraved in stone around the monument. One of my favorites said : Americans came to liberate, not to conquer, to restore freedom and to end tyranny.
It was very touching to my 85 year old WWII veteran father-in-law as he visited the memorial. He'd never seen it before and going there was one of the objectives of our trip to the east. Rick pushed him around in his wheel chair as we all took it in. The memorial has a huge water feature in the middle with the Atlantic Theater on one side and the Pacific Theater on the other, since our soldiers were involved in fighting on both fronts. Vern served in the Pacific. He saw some very heavy fighting in Okinawa and Leyte in the Philippines. We took his picture by the battle sites in which he was involved. There is a wall of 4,000 stars that represent the 400,000 lives that were lost in that war. It is a sobering and staggering reminder of the cost of freedom. There is also a registry where the names of the people who served in the armed forces during WW II and any American who helped on the home front can register. I truly believe that our parents generation was the greatest generation. They literally saved the world and for that I'll be forever grateful for their strength, courage and fortitude. I honor them today for their bravery and determination and hope that we will always remember their sacrifice.
2 comments:
They were the greatest generation, and they saved the world as we know it from tyranny. It's said that if you can read, thank a teacher, and if you can read in English, thank a soldier. I'm so grateful for my dad, my father-in-law, and millions of other veterans who gave so much, and in some cases gave their very lives to preserve our freedom. They deserve our gratitude and thanks, and we can never repay them.
That is a beautiful memorial and I am grateful for their generation too.
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