My Dad somewhere in Europe during WWII
Today is the sixth year of my dad’s passing. I will always remember listening to him as he talked about WWII. He drove a tank and was in many of the big battles in the European theatre including the Battle of the Bulge and Bridge at Remagen. His war stories captivated
me, and I treasure the pictures he has of his time over there, but mostly the picture of my mom. They weren’t married yet, he was 19 and she was only 16, but he carried that picture with him throughout the war.
When he returned home, he told my mom that while he loved her, he felt that she needed to ‘sow her oats.’ My dad had some “adventures” of his own, but eventually they found their way back to each other.
My Mom, 16 years old. My dad carried this picture with him through WWII.
I thought about my father last night, while I was at my first candidate outing – Hob Nob in Leesburg, FL. I live in a very Republican county and spoke with many folks who will probably not vote for me (maybe they will but you never know). I noticed many war veteran caps from so many of the wars and conflicts. Men and Women. I wanted to know everyone of their stories, but that was not what the night was for.
I write about this because I found out about a wonderful organization that is creating a transition home for homeless women veterans. It is called Ashley’s House in Eustis, Florida. It’s named for 1st Lt. Ashley White who was killed in Afghanistan while serving this country. They are building a home but need a lot of material to complete this heartfelt mission. Please click on www.villagersforveterans.org to learn more about this group that helps veterans with financial guidance, VA Benefits, and school and career counseling.
They fought to protect our independence, let’s help them regain theirs.
My Aunt Rita was also in WWII. She was a WAC and her story is in the Military Women’s Memorial. That’s her picture on the top of this story!
