For me it’s my now-deceased Uncle Tommy. An unassuming member of the Greatest Generation. He was in Europe in WWII and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He typified what we’ve come to believe about that generation. He didn’t think he was special or particularly heroic. He just did his duty to his country and then came home and lived an honorable life. My favorite family story is my mother’s recollection of the neighborhood celebration that took place when this skinny boy in uniform stepped off the bus at the end of the street. Bag in hand he started walking down the street towards home. As hopeful staring turned into joyful recognition family, friends and neighbors rushed out to welcome him home. A soldier who had faithfully served. My sincerest thanks to those of you who today are walking in those honorable footsteps.
my grandfather was born in 1920, he went deaf as a child but saw his brothers and cousins go off to ww2. one brother went into the navy and my grandfather snuck on board the ship so that he could go fight. he was found out and taken off ship. he then joined the merchant marines and headed off to europe.
he lost 2 brothers and 6 cousins. after the war he traveled the world with his only remaining brother on harleys.
most of his cousins were never found. he still misses them greatly.
this summer we celebrated his 91st birthday. he could still kick your ass.
My dad, grandpa, and my boy mike… We just lost my grandpa a few years ago at 90 years old. My dad prefers me not talk about it. My boy mike just got back from his second 12 month term and is now retired. Thank you guys 
Recently deceased grandfather - WWII, in the Navy (Pacific Theater). Don’t quite know what he did there. 91 y/o grandfather was a Hump Pilot. Crazy shit that was. Have his flight jacket patches framed and hanging over my desk. Late brother-in-law, crashed his F-16 in Iraq. Still don’t know how my sister deals with that and I regret not getting the chance to know him better.
Thanks to all that have served.
Posted before, My Son:
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My 85-yr old dad, joined the Army Air Corps during his senior year of high school and served on a B-24 crew in the Pacific, later spending a year in Tokyo as part of the occupying force after V-J Day.
My brother-in-law, Army MP with tours in both Afghanistan and Iraq.
My 24-yr old nephew, returned home two weeks ago safe and sound with the rest of his Marine unit from deployment in Afghanistan.
Thank you to all the veterans!
72 year old dad, earned the distinguished flying cross flying rescue helicopter missions in vietnam for the USAF. Now helps out with honor flights, though they have been discontinued in Rochester. He and a group of other vets from church will monthly meet with families of deployed personnel to do oil changes, change furnace filters, fix a washer, paint, etc. to give back as others gave to our family while he served.
My grandpa flew the Hump as well. He died in the 70’s, but my dad created an amazing version of his memouirs. His stories are incredible. He flew C47’s mostly.
Other grandpa was with the 10th Mountain division in Italy. He was a mortar platoon sergent.
Two of my heros.
From today’s ceremony in Ottawa:
“May those who died be remembered lovingly. May those who were injured be healed in body and spirit. May those who serve and continue to serve live out their lives in a world that is free of terror and suffused with tranquility, the type of world they serve to create and to preserve.”
See my post with the Spitfire that my dad flew in WWII.
My uncle Jerry passed away this summer at age 90. He flew numerous missions in a Lancaster bomber for the Royal Canadian Air Force.
My Uncle Ted died a few years ago. He was in the army. The day before D-Day he tripped over a tent peg and broke his ankle, missing the big show. LOL!! But he was always a hero in my book.
this summer we celebrated his 91st birthday. he could still kick your ass.
I believe this. My Grandfather was a Marine and I firmly believe that he could had still kicked my ass even after ALS put him in a hospital bed. If he needed to, he would have. He flew Corsairs off carriers.
My other Grandfather was a Seabee in the South Pacific. I understand he worked on the project that designed the bomb lift used by the Enola Gay.
Those two guys didn’t fuck around. I miss them.
See my post with the Spitfire that my dad flew in WWII.
My uncle Jerry passed away this summer at age 90. He flew numerous missions in a Lancaster bomber for the Royal Canadian Air Force.
My Uncle Ted died a few years ago. He was in the army. The day before D-Day he tripped over a tent peg and broke his ankle, missing the big show. LOL!! But he was always a hero in my book.
Lanc crews … night bombing missions…