Remember your Veterans
Sadly, the last WWII veteran in my family passed away a few years ago. I remember very clearly the feeling of pride weaving its way among the family's grief and sorrow as the American flag from his casket was folded in the traditional manner and solemnly presented to my eldest uncle.
Our family is originally German, English and Scottish. Papaw was stationed the whole time in Europe. When I was a kid I had to do a paper for school about WWII. Papaw tried, he really did. He tried to tell me what he saw, but the memories were too ugly, too hurtful, and the words would not come. In the end he gave me a stack of newspapers and photos with the request that I do my best. He was just a very young man with a new bride when he was shipped out. He and his brothers built my grandmother a house before he had to leave. One of his sons, the eldest, was born while he was away and he never saw him in person until the baby was almost four years old. But, in his words, at least he was one of the men who made it home.
The war so affected him that when he came back he tried to live his life to the fullest, and he did. Henderson David Allen January 1, 1916 - September 14, 2001.
Bless you, Veterans, and those who are still fighting. Come home safe.
Our family is originally German, English and Scottish. Papaw was stationed the whole time in Europe. When I was a kid I had to do a paper for school about WWII. Papaw tried, he really did. He tried to tell me what he saw, but the memories were too ugly, too hurtful, and the words would not come. In the end he gave me a stack of newspapers and photos with the request that I do my best. He was just a very young man with a new bride when he was shipped out. He and his brothers built my grandmother a house before he had to leave. One of his sons, the eldest, was born while he was away and he never saw him in person until the baby was almost four years old. But, in his words, at least he was one of the men who made it home.
The war so affected him that when he came back he tried to live his life to the fullest, and he did. Henderson David Allen January 1, 1916 - September 14, 2001.
Bless you, Veterans, and those who are still fighting. Come home safe.