As Memorial Day approaches, I believe that it is a time to honor all of the veterans that have served for our country and have put their lives on the line for the safety of the people of the United States, as well as those who have given the ultimate sacrifice to their country. I am lucky enough to say that I have two family members that fought in World War II. My Great Uncle Mickey Perry served. Mickey was killed as he was flying over Germany. He was a Radioman and gunman as part of a crew on a bomber. My family still has all of his letters, medals and even the telegram that was sent to my Great Grandmother Perry informing her of Mickey's death. To this day I wish I could have met him. My grandfather, Frank Findling was a member of the United States Air Force. He received a Purple Heart, the rank of Second Lieutenant, served in the European Theatre, was honorably discharged and faced a great deal of adversity. These are my memories of my grandfather, Frank Findling.

I was fortunate enough to meet my grandfather and know him for a few years before he passed. He was in incredible man. Although he passed away when I was very young and I have many great memories of him. Grandpa Findling loved Christmas, he had an incredible ability to sing, he always watched documentaries on the history channel, he was funny and he was always happy. Grandpa Findling never talked about his experience overseas, but my family and I know he was proud of his service and a huge advocate for anyone in uniform.

Now, when I say that Grandpa Findling loved Christmas, I really mean it. He was always in the holiday spirit. When he and my grandmother lived in a nursing home, they always had different Santa decorations around their room and had a glittery Santa decoration for their door. (My family actually has the Santa decoration that hung on their door every December.) He also had a homemade vest that he wore every year that I remember. It was red and had felt snowmen on it, as well as green, red and white pom-poms and silver sequins all over. Grandpa Findling would open gifts he was given with care and always tried not to rip the paper. Other gifts, he would let me open when I was young.

Frank Findling had some pipes. He could sing like nobody’s business. My parents and I thoroughly believe that I inherited his ability to sing, as I am the only other member of the family that can sing. When I was in the fifth grade, I played the flute and I brought it when we visited so I could play a song for my grandmother and grandfather. I remember playing the piece, without knowing that there were lyrics and all the sudden Grandpa Findling began to sing. After a while, I just stopped playing to listen to him and he continued until he finished the song. It was incredible to hear someone sing like that. I wish I could still hear him sing and sing with him.

The History Channel was always on the TV in Grandpa Findling’s room. No matter what time of day, if there was a documentary on about the military or any significant point in history, you can bet that the attention was on the TV screen. I didn’t understand his fascination with all of the documentaries because I was so young, but now I find myself enjoying historical documentaries like the ones that he always watched.

There was never a dull moment spent with Grandpa Findling. I remember him always smiling, even when he didn’t want to. He loved my grandmother and you could see it with every glance he made at her. He loved my dad, who worked so hard to keep him and my grandmother healthy. He loved my mom as if she were his own daughter. He loved me. You could always feel the love in whatever room you were fortunate enough to share with him. I am honored to say that I am the granddaughter of Second Lieutenant Frank Findling, who served his country in World War II, was a great father to my dad and father in-law to my mom and who was an incredible grandfather to me. I wish that I was old enough to understand that he wouldn’t be around forever. I wish that I could ask him all of the questions that I have now. Although I can’t do this, I know that Grandpa Findling is always with me and will always be a role model that I look up to throughout the rest of my life.

Frank Findling is pictured on the far left of the front row with his fellow soldiers.