MMemorial Day is right here! It has change into synonymous with being a day to take pleasure in household, mates and even a barbecue, however let's not neglect to take a second in the present day to recollect all of our preventing women and men through the years who’ve made the final word sacrifice by laying their lives. in order that the remainder of us can reside freely.
Through the years on Memorial Day, I’ve had the chance to cease by my grandparents' graves at Fort Snelling Nationwide Cemetery in Bloomington, MN.
Even when I don't get there this 12 months, it's at all times a vivid reminder of how a lot a lot has given. There are row after row of graves for our servicemen and girls, so a lot of them died preventing for our nation.
I discovered the graves of Medal of Honor winners there a number of occasions whereas I used to be there, and it was wonderful to examine their sacrifices later after I acquired house with a Google search.
My grandfather's captivity story
Being at Fort Snelling additionally jogs my memory of how a lot my grandfather gave regardless of not being killed in motion. My grandfather Fred Anderson was within the US Military Air Corps and have become a POW in a German POW camp for over a 12 months. What he went via couldn't have been straightforward and I'm simply unhappy that he handed at such a younger age (in his 60's) as a result of Parkinson's and a stroke. I’ve by no means been capable of get as full an account of his experiences as I’d have preferred.
I not too long ago realized a bit of extra about his experiences as a POW after I learn a e-book concerning the experiences of many others in the identical POW camp as him known as The Final Escape, The Untold Story of Alledo. Prisoners of Conflict in Europe 1944-1945.
My grandfather was a spare gunner on a B-17 that was shot down in February 1944. He and his crew flew three profitable missions, however on their fourth mission throughout “Massive Week” (see wikipedia) they have been coming back from a bombing raid over Leipzig, Germany and have been shot down.
Your entire crew parachuted from the airplane, however have been shortly captured by the Germans. They have been despatched to Stalag Luft 4 close to Grosstychow, Prussia, the place 6,660 different American POWs have been held.
My grandfather's seize was first reported to the Worldwide Committee of the Purple Cross on February 22, 1944, and in keeping with the Purple Cross he was imprisoned for not less than 473 days (1 12 months and ~4 months).
He remembered the liberation in his hospital mattress. One evening he went to sleep unwell as a German prisoner and woke as much as discover that the Russians had occupied the world. He ultimately made it to France the place he recovered after which house to Minnesota the place he married and had a household, together with his first born – my father.
He weighed 180 kilos when he left house earlier than the warfare, and returned house in late 1945 at a thin 130 kilos. We’re so grateful that he got here again so many weren’t so fortunate.
Since it’s Memorial Day weekend, the cemetery can be in full bloom with flags flying and flowers on numerous graves in reminiscence of family members. It's often a really thrilling sight and I can attempt to get there the day after to catch a glimpse – and provides thanks in prayer for all these courageous women and men.
So this Memorial Day weekend, we thank our veterans and thank those that have already paid the final word worth. You’ll not be forgotten.
