12/7/04 Our Father, we are mindful of this day in our nations’ history and offer our prayers of thanks to all who served on our behalf. We pray too for our troubled world and those who continue to pursue Peace. Remind us that peace is not possible without each of us being willing to forgive and live with one another. Amen
Today’s prop is Dad’s 1944 Senior Book, from Norwood High School. He is the one peeping over the middle of the card, with a cryptic “Where you going boy?” written across the top margins. Others just signed their names. Is this Dad’s handwriting? I don’t know. I know he was anxious to serve. So much so that he signed up against his parents wishes.
How many of these faces perished in WWII? Again, I have no clue. But my father probably knew.
He went on one of the last Honor Flights for WWII veterans. When I find the photos, I will share. He literally beams.
Having the hospice team bring in their veterans service to his bedside was a day I will cherish.
Days of infamy, days of joy…who knew that the original text was something far less pointed and far more trite.
We all edit our work.
As Dad would close all his letters,
“Peace!”
https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/PTO/Dip/Infamy.html
An annotated version of the speech, showing the original wording “a date which will live in world history”