This year I hit my 40th year of full time ministry as a pastor. As some of you may know, pastor's do a lot of funerals. And I have certainly done my share. I've done far more funerals than I would have liked to, but that's how things work, especially in small town USA where I've spent 31 of those 40 years.
Right now, even the youngest of the still living WW2 vets are in their 90's. That's just the reality of time, but the remaining WW2 vets are fast becoming rarities on this side of the sod.
Its rarely easy to get them to talk about their experiences in the war. In some ways that's very natural. Few people alive, at least in this country, have ever lived in a generation that was impacted more by the experience of war than the folks who are leaving us for the next life day in and day out. And no, this is not a "Come to Jesus" sermon, though I'm certain we (notice I said "we") need to hear one every now and then.
This is a plea. This is a plea to get off your duff and find one of these WW2 vets and at the minimum, say thanks before its too late. If he or she is a relative or close friend, take the time to give them lots of opportunities to share what they can and will share. If you're a military vet yourself, that will help.
When they're gone, they're gone, and only on the other side of eternity will we get a chance to hear their stories. So find the time to listen NOW. The stories will not necessarily be easy to hear, but listen anyway. You need to listen for your own good. Most of us don't have a clue. Sure, "Band of Brothers," "The Pacific", "Saving Private Ryan", "Pearl Harbor", "Hacksaw Ridge", and a whole bunch of other great movies can give you a glimpse into what it was like, it will still only be a glimpse. The real horror of it was far, far worse than any movie can convey.
So take the time to find a WW2 vet and say thanks.
Then go find the slightly younger Korean Conflict vets and say the same... then the Vietnam vets, and the Gulf Wars, Afghanistan, and all the rest......... and I'm certain that I've forgotten some.
The point is, let us NOT FORGET. They served in our place and they deserve our thanks, our respect, and our willingness to never forget them and what they did for all of us.
Enough preaching.
Brad