If you weren’t alive on May 8th, 1945, I don’t think we can know how households, towns, and the entire nation felt when victory was declared in Europe. The political and industrial leaders of America had already started planning for the post-war era, but Americans were simply thankful that one part of a dreadful war was over. The war against Japan continued but victories there were starting to mount.

To those who served in uniform during World War 2, to those who served in the factories supporting the war effort, to those who served on the home front selling bonds, donating to scrap metal, rubber, even animal fat drives; thank you for all that you did and all that you sacrificed.

I wish those of us in the present had a better connection to that era. Many of us no longer understand the meaning of sacrifice and take all that we have for granted. The generations of Americans living during the 30’s and 40’s did not. And the majority did not after that war was over. The passing of those people may very well be as significant as the time when our founding fathers and Revolutionary War soldiers were dying one by one. We only have their writings and history books to tell us their story. But those of us with parents and grandparents who lived during the first half of the 20th Century must keep their story and message alive to our children, and their children.