Those That Serve

Those That Serve:

    This entry is a serious blog post which has nothing to do with Cancer or my treatment.  

    Most of you know that I teach 7^th grade American History.  I love teaching history. Sometimes I really get into what I am teaching and read everything I can about the topic.  I don’t teach about WWII because that is an 8^th grade topic.  However, I wanted to expand my knowledge on certain parts of WWII.  This summer, I started watching the t.v. series “Band of Brothers.”  First of all, wow!  It was very well done.  There were a few episodes that really hit home and made me think about things.  One episode was titled “Bastogne.”  The 101^st were stuck in the woods during the winter.   The 101^st lost a lot of men during this part of the war.  It really made me think about these young boys who were in fox holes in the middle of winter with trees exploding over them from German artillery.  They didn’t have proper clothing, food, or medical needs.  Several episodes later (Why we fight) the 101^st comes upon a German work camp.  This is the first time the men and the officers see a German work camp and see what the Germans were doing to the Jewish people.  As I watched “Why We Fight,” my thoughts went back to the Bastogne scenes.  These young boys were fighting and doing the unthinkable without even really knowing what they were fighting for.  I learned a lot about the 101^st and want to take some time to honor them for what they did.

    

     This brings to me current day.  There are so many men and women that are fighting so other people can have their freedom. It is so easy to go about our day without thinking of them and what they are doing.  I want to take a moment and thank all those that have served or are currently serving.  I want to thank my father, uncles, grandfather and cousin for serving.  I want to thank my brother Joey and his fellow graduates from West Point that went into the Army.  I want to thank my cousin Adam who is currently serving his country.   I know a lot of my blog followers think of me on a regular basis.  Now when you think of me take another moment and think of those that are away from home serving our country. 

Winters: [quoting from a letter Mike Ranney wrote to him]: I cherish the memory of a question my grandson asked me the other day, when he said: 'Grandpa, were you a hero in the war?' Grandpa said, "No. But I served in a company of heroes."