WHEN WE WERE ONE

Wayne D. Leeper

 

   They arrived from every state in the union and some even from foreign countries.  Some walked proud and upright.  Some were assisted by children and grandchildren.  Some had canes and walkers while still others arrived in wheelchairs.  Nevertheless, they came for this last great gathering of eagles.  They were the men and woman who had saved the world from German and Japanese aggression and preserved the freedom of millions.  They were the men and women who fought and won World War II then had come home to prove why they were the "Greatest Generation."

   They had fought a war to save a world then returned home to make the nation they had served a symbol of courage, honor, and freedom for all mankind.  They held high that great beacon of hope that shone forth from these shores to light up the hopes, aspirations, and longings of an entire world. They were not black-Americans, Latin-Americans, native-Americans, nor any other name that a required a hyphen.  They wore only one name; American.  They did not esteem their diversity, but outwardly wore, and proudly cherished their unity.  They were the great melting pot of nationalities that had become one and called themselves simply and proudly the sons and daughters of America.

   The years have slowed their pace, dimmed their eyes, blunted their hearing, and bent their bodies.  But their minds are as sound as ever and their hearts still beat a little faster when they looked upon Old Glory or heard the familiar notes of the Star Spangled Banner.  When they heard the sound of "Ruffles and Flourishes," they accepted whatever help was necessary, but to a person they came to their feet.  Their Commander in Chief was approaching the podium and they would not permit him to do so  without a standing ovation.  As the band struck up the Star Spangled Banner they stood a little straighter and a little taller as to a person their hands came up in the salute they had always offered to their superiors and their flag for over fifty-eight years.

   This occasion, however, was not a tribute to their Commander, or their flag, it was a tribute to them.  It was the dedication of the World War II Memorial proudly standing on the National Mall between the Washing Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.  From this day forward as long as America stands, the sun will rise over the Washington Monument, the symbol of our birth,  and set over the Lincoln Memorial, the symbol of our unity.  Proudly guarding the sacred ground in-between will stand the World War II Memorial to those who had cherished the nations birth, defended it's life and would die preserving it's unity.

   As the President began to speak every mind returned to a single day; December 7, 1941; the day that would forever live in "infamy."  Tears filled their eyes as they thought back and they remembered.  They remember the friends lost, the spouses and sweethearts left behind the lonely nights and the fear that both filled them and motivated them.  The great Japanese Admiral Yamamoto would later, in referring to Pearl Harbor, state "I fear that all we have accomplished is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve."

   For two years the congress and the American people had firmly resisted becoming involved in "Europe's" war.  America, and most of the people were still basically isolationists.  They were in the process of recovering from the "great depression" and the problems in Europe had not yet affected the people of America.  After all, we had not been attacked so why should we involve ourselves, even though the British had been begging for our help and our President, Franklin Roosevelt, had been advocating that America get involved.  That all changed at 7:50 AM on December 7, 1941.      

   From every corner and crossroads of America they came.  Men and women who lined up for blocks to raise their right hand in a pledge to defend their country and the freedom they held so dear.  Farm boys, city boys, and everyone in between.  They were suppose to be at least 18 but many lied about their age so they might also serve. One in particular who lied about his age was a rich kid from Connecticut whose family had the political connections necessary to keep him out of the military and safe from the dangers of combat.  His friends knew him simply as George.  His full was George Herbert Walker Bush. He would become the youngest fighter pilot is the U.S. Army, then go on to become the forty-first President of the United States of America. 

   As these gallant warriors of yesteryear gathered for their final rendezvous it reminded a grateful nation of the time when we were one.  These were no red states and blue back states back then.  There were no marches of protest against the war being fought or the President who sent America's finest young men and women into harms way.  The shared sacrifice brought the nation together in one common effort, one common cause, and one common mind.  When the men left their jobs to fight on foreign fields   the women steeped forward to replace them in the factories that converted from peacetime production to producing the armaments  necessary for the war effort.  The citizens of America gave up the luxuries of life, accepted rationing, and donate the items necessary to support the troops.

   Hollywood stars such as Bob hope, Jimmy Stewart, Glen Ford, Betty Grabble and yes, even Hopalong Cassidy left the movie sets to become a part of the war effort.  None were too good, and none were to proud to do whatever was necessary to support the sixteen million young men and women who went forth into battle.  It is indeed a shame that three-fourths of them would never live to see the monument built to honor their service and dedication.

   In those days our congress was comprised of statesmen who looked to God for inspiration, the White House for leadership, and the good of the people for purpose.  These were not today's sleazy politicians who keep their eyes on the polls, their fingers in the political winds, and are more interested in personal power than the needs of the people.  Not a single congressman ever express regret for his vote for war, or vocally came out against any part of the war effort.

   There were no Jane Fonda's, John Kerry's, Michael Moore's or Barbra Streisand's calling the President every derogatory name they could think of.  There were no Teddy Kennedy's (the rum soaked hero of Chappaquidic) spitting invectives at the President. No Jim McDermott's praising a ruthless and murdering dictator.  There were none like shirking Nancy Pelosi's claiming that her tirades against the President and the war should be interpreted as support for the troops. "I'm deeply saddened" Tom Daschle would have been a joke in the minds of real Senate leaders, just as would have been screeching has-been politicians like ex-Vice President Al Gore.  There were no power hungry Presidential want-a-be's like Hillary Clinton telling the nation how wrong and stupid Franklin Roosevelt was.  Had there been they would have all been brought up on charges of treason, for good reason convicted, and serving time to this day.    

   No, in those days Americans, citizen and politician, Hollywood stars and farm boys, rich and poor, men and  women, blacks and whites; stood shoulder to shoulder and went forth as one to oppose and vanquish a common enemy.  Together, they earned the respect and admiration of the world and set a standard of excellence that exemplified all that was good about America.  That was a time when we were one and that "greatest generation" richly deserved the memorial dedicated to them on the mall of Washington DC.  

   One of the most powerful tools of warfare used by both the troops in the field and the citizens at home was the avenue of prayer.  In those days America went to church.  They did so not to be seen of men or for political photo ops, but to worship their God and to ask Him to protect their sons and daughters who were in harm's way on the field of battle. The church was as much a part of their life as the grocery store, the gas station and the local school.  The worship of God was not just a weekly event in their lives, it was an integral and sustaining part of their lives.

   Over 400,000 young men and women gave their lives in the fight for freedom that lasted almost five years.  Yet during that time America never lost faith in itself, it's leaders, or the ability and dedication of the young men and women who made up it's military.  They did not seek, nor would they have accepted, accommodation with the enemy, nor did they seek to understand the perverted ideals of those who they fought against. They simply  recognized evil when they saw it and knew that the only way to stop it was to defeat it.  They answered threats with power, crises with resolve and death with renewed determination.

   That is why they will forever be known as the "Greatest Generation." They were our mothers and fathers, our grandmothers and grandfathers and they gave us every reason to be proud.

   That is how it was when we were one.