Thoughts
I was born 4 1/2 yrs after World War II ended. My earliest memories were filled with men returning home to their families and reclaiming their lives. My father to be, among them. I remember passing San Francisco Bay and seeing more war ships in a few minutes than we have in our entire navy today. There were soldiers marching in parades for every holiday. And plenty of war surplus. Our beds were covered with olive green wool army blankets. Our silverware was stamped with U.S. on the handle, our plates were metal. It was a time of great pride, men were heroes. We felt good about ourselves. We were united. It was the best time to be a boy growing up, there were role models everywhere. There was hope for a bright future. Our nation’s history was told with deep emotion.
The lesson was, have courage, stand united. People mattered.