My family and I was at a restaurant the other day and after my son (16) went to the bathroom, he mentioned there was a man sitting in the front with a WWII hat on. My son asked me if I thought he was in WWII or just wearing a hat. I told him the man is old enough to have been in WWII,so after dinner, I told my kids we are going and thank him. Ok, they are teens and were a bit apprehensive, but I walked up and it seemed those in the booth with him knew what I was about to ask. I said sir, my son noticed your hat and we wanted to know if you served in WWII, he say “Yes, I most certainly did” I told him we wanted to thank him. I then asked him where, he said in Europe for two years. He was just a boy, 18 and the second year “he took one in the chest”. I wanted him to go on....everyone around us was listening, and the woman across the table who I assume was his daughter had this look like she was so proud of her father. I asked him if he had written the events somewhere, his daughter(?) shook her head no, almost regretful, this beautiful, kind and peaceful looking gentleman, said “ I really just want to forget”. How could I be so insensitive......I told him, I was sorry, but I hope we never forget their courage and their service.....He then said “we wont as long as folks like you keep telling your children” I was so proud, I wanted to hug him, but I knew that would not be right, so I just shook his hand, my daughter and my son did as well. As we were walking out, my 16 year old son said “that was so cool”.
God Bless our wonderful Veterans! I WILL NEVER FORGET!