The Stories and Lessons of WWII Still Linger

There have been a lot of reminders about World War II in recent weeks. The 71^st anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor was earlier this month, and WWII Vets gathered at their memorial in Washington for a special ceremony to honor the legacy of the Greatest Generation.

This week marked the 68^th anniversary of the start of the Battle of the Bulge, a last ditch effort by the German military to retake the European continent. The brutal fight—in freezing conditions with Americans running on little food, warmth, and ammo—defeated the last Nazi thrust in what has been called the greatest American battle in our history.

With these reminders of American resoluteness and victory, this week also brought somber news. Hawaii Senator Daniel Inouye, an Army Veteran of World War II’s famous 442^nd regiment, Medal of Honor recipient, and longstanding Veterans advocate, died Monday at the age of 88.

His heroics on the battlefield are nearly incomprehensible; check out his Medal of Honor citation to be astonished. VA Secretary Eric Shinseki counted Sen. Inouye as a friend and mentor. Read the Secretary’s statement on his passing here.

Dozens of WWII Veterans pass away each day. It’s never the wrong time to remember their stories and their sacrifices, especially when they’re still around to share them.