Our families involvement in warfare becomes a part of our collective history, and a part of us. On the way to Maryland we listened to Kim Parkinson's incredible stories about her family's part in the Dutch resistance in WWII. Her uncle was arrested by the Nazis and put on a train to an unknown fate...so his resistance group blew up the tracks and rescued him! When the Canadians liberated Kim's ancestral village in Holland they were so grateful and impressed with the soldiers they decided to emigrate to Canada. My mother, her sister and two brothers all inlisted in the Army together. The girls went right into the Army Nurse Corps and the boys became infantrymen, fighting their way through the Pacific and the European theater. I was raised on WWII stories, nurturing my love of history and respect for the military. I passed it on to my kids, two of whom are soldiers. And so it goes. We'll go to the little parade in Brookfield today, and pay respects to the vets, living and dead...always remembered.
1 comment:
Thank you Maggie. Sometimes it seems like the memorial day here in America is just a big barbecue with loud music. Nice to know that it is not so. Sorry, I am still cranky from last night's consert, that lasted until 3 a.m. Russia celebrated the V-day, May 9th. My GM, my father's mother was a radio operator behind enemy lines, was captured, and later rescued. We did not know any of it until she passed away. She always told us that she was a nurse, even had photos. after her death our family was located by a few different governments. Apparently there were medals issued in her name, but they could not find her. Her files were opened only after her death.
Post a Comment