Memorial Day coming up has me thinking of my dad and grandfather. Neither who were killed in action so their mention not meant for Memorial
Day except . . My dad was in France and Germany in WWII and had many friends get killed. My grandfather fought in WWI and his younger
brother got killed in 1916 at age 16. So Memorial Day was a pretty big day for my dad. My grandfather who was in WWI? Not so much. His
attitude was it was not proper to speak of the dead. Kind of bury them and forget them. Maybe a French thing?
My grandfather's younger brother got killed at age 16, in 1916. He was listed as a "mechanic." In 1916, in southern France, I am not sure
that that means. Regardless - can you imagine going back in time and trying to explain to him the idea of an Internet and digital
photography and his image posted on-line over 100 years later? And yes, Albert was in the French Army fighting the Germans. Still - to be
technical - Memorial Day is supposed to be a day set aside for all people who died in action. His older brother got the heck out of France
a few years after Albert was killed and moved to New York City. I guess if he had been killed, I would not be here writing this.
I will note nobody else in my family were killed in action. So nobody in my clan who qualifies for Memorial Day. Near everybody was in the
military and everybody survived just fine.
Day except . . My dad was in France and Germany in WWII and had many friends get killed. My grandfather fought in WWI and his younger
brother got killed in 1916 at age 16. So Memorial Day was a pretty big day for my dad. My grandfather who was in WWI? Not so much. His
attitude was it was not proper to speak of the dead. Kind of bury them and forget them. Maybe a French thing?
My grandfather's younger brother got killed at age 16, in 1916. He was listed as a "mechanic." In 1916, in southern France, I am not sure
that that means. Regardless - can you imagine going back in time and trying to explain to him the idea of an Internet and digital
photography and his image posted on-line over 100 years later? And yes, Albert was in the French Army fighting the Germans. Still - to be
technical - Memorial Day is supposed to be a day set aside for all people who died in action. His older brother got the heck out of France
a few years after Albert was killed and moved to New York City. I guess if he had been killed, I would not be here writing this.
I will note nobody else in my family were killed in action. So nobody in my clan who qualifies for Memorial Day. Near everybody was in the
military and everybody survived just fine.
