‘Thank you’ to World War II veterans

I was going to write this column comparing my generation to the World
War II generation: How me and my lot are all a bunch of whining punks who
blame all their misfortunes on others and are afraid to work hard; and how
theirs is one of self-responsible adults with strict work ethics.

But at the dedication of the WWII memorial this weekend in our nation’s capitol, I realized it probably was not worth it.

So, instead, I just want to say thank you.

In fact, the most popular phrase this weekend in Washington D.C. was “thank
you.” It was delivered mostly to old men rolling past in wheelchairs or hobbling
down sidewalks wearing medals, ribbons and hats that determined what battalion
they fought in and what honors they received during the war.

Today’s soldiers were thanking yesterday’s; young children thanking their
grandparents; Vietnam veterans thanking WWII veterans.

There were thank you notes — along with photographs, old newspaper stories
and ribbons — taped to the granite posts with the names of states and U.S.
properties etched on them. On Michigan’s granite post there were flowers,
posters and photographs of veterans and their families — all thank you’s
to the dedication of the soldiers from WWII.

Even at a rest area in Pennsylvania I saw people thanking WWII servicemen.

But me, I never said “thank you” to any of them.

None of the thousands that I walked by and through and near all weekend.
None of the thousands who fought in the same war as my grandpas. None of
the many that I talked to.

I never said thank you for fighting. I never said thank you for leaving
your family behind. I never said thank you for winning. I just never said
thank you. And it wasn’t because I wasn’t thankful. I am.

My friends who went with me — my brother Jason, Emily Siedlecki and Harry
Mason — were not afraid to say thank you, so being curious, I asked Harry
why.

“I thought they deserved some recognition and it was nice to see them
all so proud,” he said with little hesitation. “I wanted to show them respect.”
Then I asked him if he was scared to say thank you. He said, “Scared? Oh
no. They were all very nice.”

All day walking around Washington I wanted to say thank you to a veteran.
It was something I thought I needed to do. Then, near the end of my time
at the new memorial, I started talking to a man and his wife in front of
Michigan’s granite post. He was from Petosky and was holding a sign that
gave his battalion number. He talked of fighting and returning home and finally
getting a memorial built in his and his friends honor.

After our conversation, as taps was playing in the back ground, I put
my hand on his shoulder and, instead of saying thank you, I said, “Have a
good day, sir.”

It is not just the leaders — the Winston Churchills, Dwight Eisenhowsers
and Franklin Roosevelts — who need to be thanked. But also the soldiers
— the Rocky Donnellys, Bill Rushes and Henry Taits — who deserve respect
and gratitude.

So, from me to all those WWII veterans who happen to read this: Thank you.