Quote:
Originally Posted by Rochard
I ate lunch with a WWII vet that stormed the beach at Normandy. Best lunch I ever had.
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A few years ago I took my two daughters to the re-opening of the HMCS Haida (
WWII tribal-class destroyer) in Hamilton, Ontario after it'd been fully restored.
We were standing on the bow near one of the big guns when an old-timer standing by himself a few feet away made the comment that it "looks as good as the day she was new."
Turns out he was one of the original crew that served in the North Atlantic when it was launched. He'd heard about the re-opening and drove up from Michigan to see it again.
The four of us stood there on deck while he took the time to tell my daughters what it was like standing on the open bridge in the icy North Atlantic. I stood there in complete awe, with chills down my spine listening to this gracious vet share his story with us. It was a very special moment...and after he finished I gave him my thanks and appreciation not only for telling us his experiences...but for his service to our country.
I still remember that day like it was yesterday. I told my daughters afterwards they should feel lucky and truly honoured to have had the chance to stand there listening to a piece of history from someone who had lived to tell about it.
