One small nit to pick ... the basic plot of which is fiction ... You probably are aware of this ...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niland_brothers
The Niland brothers were four American brothers from Tonawanda, New York, serving in the military during World War II. Of the four, two survived the war, but for a time it was believed that only one, Frederick "Fritz" Niland, had survived. After the reported deaths of his three brothers, Fritz was sent back to the United States to complete his service and only later learned that his brother Edward, missing and presumed dead, was actually captive in a Japanese POW camp in Burma. Steven Spielberg's film "Saving Private Ryan" is loosely based on the brothers' story. ...
Back around 1986 we took our Boy Scout troop for a weekend trip to Charleston, SC, and lodged on board the U.S.S. Yorktown at Patriots' Point. I was 31 and freely admit I just didn't know enough about WWII history (that has certainly changed since). That trip shook me to my core. Upon learning the average age of the sailors serving on board the Yorktown during WWII was 19, all I had to do was look around at my troop of 11-16 year-olds and their beaming faces. The story of the fate of VT-8 onboard the U.S.S. Hornet at Midway was well presented onboard the Yorktown and only added to the sense of indebtedness overwhelming me. I do wonder what those former Scouts, now middle-aged men, must think of current events.
Thank you, always, to our citizens serving in uniform and may the Almighty watch over those overseas who go in harm's way on our behalf.
Hearing stories like your story of taking your Boy Scout troop to see the U.S.S. Yorktown, the stories you heard there, and the effect they had on you (and on presumably at least some of the scouts you had brought) always makes me very sad.
I believe one of the reasons our citizenry, especially the younger adults, is so ignorant about its roots and so apathetic about the usurpation of our liberties, is that those stories of heroism exhibited, and sacrifice made, by those who went before are no longer being taught to our youth, at least not to the degree, and with the truthfulness, that they used to be.
I recently received an e-mail from a friend that really serves as a microcosm of what is wrong with much of our public education system today. Here is an excerpt:
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The reason we are in this dilemma, in my opinion, is that the American people are so confused. They do not recognize who they are and what their heritage is. I blame the teachers and their unions. They don't teach the Constitution, the Founding Fathers, or American History.
As you know, I am regent of the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. One of our members left our chapter a considerable amount of money. She wanted us to buy books about the Revolutionary War for the local high school. So with a committee we shopped around for primary sources. Then we went to the history chair at our local high school and told her what we'd like to do. She said we could put the books in the school library, but she doubted that any of the students would read them because the school 'no longer teaches the Revolutionary War'.
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If American History were once more taught correctly, and American school children once again learned to respect and admire, and want to emulate, the courage and determination of their ancestors, we would be well on our way to recalaiming our republic from the scourdrels who are currently in charge.
~ joanie