The unprovoked attack on Pearl Harbor killed over 3,000 Americans and wounded many more, on a quiet Sunday morning. This dastardly act propelled America into World War II. America, and the world, suffered unbelievable carnage.
From the rubble of this world conflict, American servicemen and women returned to build a "New America." The hard work, courage and sacrifice they displayed in places like Berlin and Bataan was brought home, and they became America's "Greatest Generation."
Last April, as my 100 of my eighth-grade students from Blue Mountain Middle School, in Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania, exited the World War II Memorial, in Washington, D.C., we encountered a bus carrying several of our brave World War II heroes. The students stopped, and as these men, in their 80's and 90's, exited. From the crowd of 14-year olds, spontaneous claps and cheers erupted. The members of the Greatest Generation plunged into the crowd of students, and were treated like the rock stars they are. Needless to say, there were few dry eyes in the place.
The group was visiting the memorial as part of a Vets to Washington trip, sponsored by groups all around this country.
This experience was one of the most moving of my life. My students learned more in those few moments than they could in an entire school year.
Vets to Washington-April 2012
Thank you Greatest Generation. Thanks to my dad, who passed in 2007. He served in the army as the Germans blitzed the city of London in the early days of World War II. Thanks to my son, Logan, a Corporal in the United States Marine Corps. Thank you to all who serve and have served. We, as free Americans, owe our freedom to all of you.
A Proud Father, Irishman, and World War II Veteran.
I dedicated my book to him.
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