A quick story. I saved it, and usually post it here every Veteran’s Day. But it sure does apply to D-Day too.
Back when I was in my 20s I worked security for a major university. One of the campus cops - I’ll call him Bill - was older than most of us. He was also fat and slow. Bill didn’t look anything like those slick cops you see on TV. Some of the younger campus cops made fun of him. Bill never said anything back. He just took it.
Well, one day Bill brought a briefcase to roll call. He didn’t say a word, he just opened it up in front of us. In that briefcase were citations and rows of medals. Bill was an Army Ranger who landed on D-Day.
Nobody made fun of Bill after that.
To be clear, that story in #5 is not something I coped from the internet. I was in the room.
Whenever I see a man in any sort of military jacket, or he is wearing a ball cap that commemorates anything ‘military’ I always talk to them and if they’re a Veteran, I ask if I can give them a hug. Their response is always heartwarming.
As a Vet myself, I’m not the least bit shy about it. We should NEVER forget the many sacrifices others have made for us and for America.
With all my time in the Army (1978-1996) I was never on a battlefield and I thank God above for THAT. It was pure LUCK.