family

Ann and I recently (well, several months ago, actually) watched the Ken Burns documentary, The War. I’d suggest anyone who hasn’t seen it watch it. I have always been interested in WWII, but watching this really got me thinking. These folks really were the greatest generation. And listen to the music that goes along with it–I’d be hard-pressed to find better music than some of the awesome music on the soundtrack. Benny Goodman. I really wish that my father had been around to watch this–and I know that my mother would have been glued to the TV–this would have been an easy Christmas present for them both.

I guess what made me think of this today was that I was chatting with someone yesterday and mentioned the series to them. They hadn’t watched it. For some reason, when it was announced I think I thought of it like it was the Super Bowl. I still can’t even begin to imagine why anyone didn’t watch it, but if you are one of those that hasn’t just go ahead and start watching NOW!

If you have not watched this series, you owe it to yourself–and all the men and women who gave their lives, their hearts, and their time to fighting for the world–to watch it. I understand my Dad and my Mom better after having watched it and having seen more about what they went through. (Papa was in the Pacific Theater, who is shown in the photo–he’s the fellow on the left–,and was really on the front line. His brothers were in the European Theater–one was shot down over Germany and captured and another was one of the troops that invaded on D-Day. Mama was in college at the time, but worked with the Red Cross and also went to Mobile one summer to work doing her part. And everyone talked about rationing and worrying.)