Although I can’t tell you the exact date, I know it was over a decade ago that I was fortunate enough to be in a room full of World War II veterans who were being honored at the Ogdensburg Knights of Columbus.
I remember thinking at the time that it was probably the last time in my life I’d see such a large number of veterans in one place who served in what was the largest and most violent military conflict in history.
While all wars are nasty business, WWII claimed more than 50 million lives related directly to the war and as many more related to disease and famine caused in its wake.
I remember being lost in thought about what their eyes had seen and the stories they could tell.
At the event there was a variety of medals and World War II memorabilia on display as well. It’s something I’ll never forget. And it’s a thought that often catches up with me around Veterans Day.
That was more than 10 years ago and while there are still veterans left from that war, I imagine the number of those still around has dropped substantially since then.
They are some of the last living testaments to one of history’s darkest moments and if you’re fortunate enough to know any of them personally, I’m sure they’d love to hear from you this weekend.
While Memorial Day honors the soldier’s we’ve lost, Veterans Day offers us the opportunity to connect with the veterans we can still offer our appreciation to in real time.
In one of my earliest columns I wrote on the topic of Memorial Day and its distinction from Veterans Day, but one thing both days have in common is that regardless of your thoughts on war, politics, military, government or foreign policy these folks deserve some praise.
Some of my favorite people in the world are veterans.
That includes family members still alive and others who’ve passed.
It also includes friends I went to school with and others who served with them while they were enlisted and later became some of my closest friends.
And while…
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