To My Kin, Memorial Day 2006

To my daughters, nephews, grandsons and granddaughter: Tomorrow is Memorial Day. In my home hangs the display of these medals won by your grandfather or great-grandfather respectively. I wonder if you have any concept of what it means to have won them. Dad was doing what so many others did in World War II to defeat fascism in the form of Nazi Germany and Japan; He served in the military and did his part.

Dad was in the U.S. Army Signal Corps. As you can see in the photo, he was a Sergeant. Somewhere, along the line he became a Staff Sergeant. Maybe that happened in Europe. I don’t know.

He was all over Europe and went through the Battle of the Bulge. I don’t know what all happened during those years because he never wanted to talk about it. It could not have been good. His secrets went with him to the grave, and maybe that’s best.

Dad’s generation thought that by defeating Nazi and Japanese fascism that they were making the world safe. And, they did for a short while until Communism rose up and took center stage by enslaving and murdering millions of people. It is ironic that Dad’s generation, which fought so gallantly in World War II and Korea, lost it’s backbone with Vietnam when the feckless portion of my generation rose up in protest and disgraced itself with its shameful treatment of those who served in Vietnam.

Now the world is again threatened by a new brand of fascism; this time it is called Islamo-fascism. I pray that my generation will ultimately come to its senses and understand how utterly wrong we were during the Vietnam era and recognize the Islamic-fascist writing on the wall. So far, the majority of the American citizens appear to understand the greater truth, which is denied by the left.

The left deceived us in Vietnam, and it is trying to do so again. It is up to you, my daughters and nephews, to correct the wrong done by your father’s generation in that you don’t allow it to happen again. If you don’t, my grandchildren and your children will pay the price.

I hope that you will take some time this Memorial Day to reflect upon the sacrifice that your ancestor made on your behalf. But, it’s up to you because we’ve not succeeded in making the world safe for anyone.