The Sacrifices of the Greatest Generation

Today, December 7th, 2009, is the 68th anniversary of the attack of Pearl Harbor that left thousands of Americans dead, and began World War II. I wouldn't be doing the WWII generation justice if I called WWII the defining point of 20th century US history. WWII had implications for the entire human race, and left and indelible mark on the psyche of those who fought and labored to see its end. Pearl Harbor, the second worst attack on US soil (Sept 11th being the worst) polarized an already sympathetic nation to unite to defeat totalitarianism, from the navy yards in San Francisco, to the beaches of Normandy, to the islands of the Pacific.

As someone who had widely read about WWII, I find that the 20th century is defined by two eras: Pre and Post-war. The brave soldiers who fought and died in the Pacific, N Africa, Europe and Russia were working towards protecting the world from the threats of Nazis and imperialists, but their actions had wider implications for the following 68 years. WWII spawned the atomic age, the cold war, the modern American family, affordable universities, cheap housing, suburbia, the FDR amendment, the Berlin Wall, cherry blossom festival, Rosie the riveter, modern healthcare, racially integrated armed forces, the defense industry and defined the "united homefront." All of these legacies spawned their own set of principles and ideals that still define what it means to be American. It brought us out of a depression, put us on the world stage and set that stage for the beginning of the most prolific generation: the baby boomers.

Most importantly, WWII gave us the greatest generation. They survived two world wars and a economic depression, to come out during one of the most prosperous times in our history. Both of my grandfathers fought in WWII, one as a bombadier and one as a dive bomber. My living grandfather, who flew divebombers against the Japanese in the pacific with Marine Corps, is 92 years old and flies the Marine flag from his home in North Hollywood every day. Its a simple gesture whose meaning transcends many generations.

If there is something we can take from remembering Pearl Harbor, its that decisions to go to war, to respond to an attack on our homeland, is something that will inevitably reverberate through many generations. And, the sacrifices of soldiers put in harms way should, and will always be held in the highest honor.