Moved To Tears And Pride

[NightOwl]

I have been watching the dedication of the World War ll Memorial.  It sent tears from my eyes and chills up my spine.  Every word of every speech rang true.  The Memorial itself is  a beautiful, moving sight.  Those it honors--so young and so brave--truly SAVED   civilization for  the entire world.

May we always strive to  be worthy of their sacrifice.

I know now that I want to go to Washington, DC one more time.  I am determined to see this memorial  as well as  that  "Black Wall" which marks the loss of so many lives during my young adulthood.

[angelsmom10]

I have been watching the dedication of the World War ll Memorial. It sent tears from my eyes and chills up my spine. Every word of every speech rang true. The Memorial itself is a beautiful, moving sight. Those it honors--so young and so brave--truly SAVED civilization for the entire world.
 
May we always strive to be worthy of their sacrifice.
 
I know now that I want to go to Washington, DC one more time. I am determined to see this memorial as well as that "Black Wall" which marks the loss of so many lives during my young adulthood.

Years ago, there used to be a "traveling wall".  It came here to the HS football field and was guarded 24/7 for I believe 2-3 weeks.  It was awesome.  
 
We also got to see the lifesize one in DC a few years later.  

[Steve-o-bud]

My Father in Law, served in WWII as a photographer. He worked on what was called "V-Mail". The mail between the servicemen in Europe and their families in the US was microfilmed at the sending end, the exposed film shipped to the destination end, and then reproduced. This greatly reduced the amount of physical mail being shipped back and forth. He was in London durring the Blitz, and then latter in France.

I would love to be able to take him to see the memorial in person. It's a shame it took so long for a memorial to be built.

A few years ago, I had the privilage to be able to visit Washington DC. The Vietnam Memorial was absolutely breathtaking. To see the many names, on that stark black wall, along with the personal messages left there, and folks who were visiting the names of their loved ones, drove home the realization that these were real people, with real lives lost.

Latter, I went to the National Museum of American History. There, they had an exhibit of many items that were left at "The Wall". Again, a moving experience. It was interesting to learn that apparently, all items left at the wall are eventually collected, and none thrown away.

I also went to Arlington, and saw the Tomb of the Unkown Soldier. Again, the feeling was sobering.

As much as we tend to criticize our government, to see what we as a country have endured, and what our "Citizen Soldiers" have fought and died for, makes me both proud and thankfull.