If you are lucky enough to have your great grandparents or grandparents around then you know that they were the greatest generation. My great granddad served in WWII and they both survived the great depression. I didn’t know how absolutely different those times were. My great granddad passed very unexpectedly and it has made me cherish those minutes, hours, and days I get to send with my family.
Most of these people have stories and remember stuff that we learn about in history now a days. Recently, in one of my classes we were talking about the great depression and world war 2 and I did not think much of it until they mentioned certain battles that he was in. It really made me think about how things have really changed. These people were sent away from their family not knowing if they would ever see family again. These people have memorabilia that can only be found in museums.
It just so happens that I got to, in person touch and see, some crazy stuff like actual ranks from German soliders in WWII, I saw the flags the Nazi’s hung all over Germany, and seeing the colored pins they wore on the boat home to classify what part of the ship they needed to stay on. It made it so real. It made me realize it hasn’t been that long since WWII and that the generation may not be here much longer.
They were really the greatest generation.
Without them, we wouldn’t be here. Quite frankly, they went through so much more than any of us have or will. They didn’t get offended at the littlest thing. They supported this country and the people that ran it. They are overall just stronger. They were willing to do things no one else has. They were sent to war as children. That’s pretty freaking strong if you ask me. If you have nerves now, you get a pill to make you feel better. Their generation was storming the beaches on D-day. That is something that my generation will, hopefully, never understand. Their generation overall has been through stuff we cannot even imagine.
Just the other day, I called up my great grandmother asking her what she remembered the most about the Great depression and she said, the people without food. Everywhere she went. She said it was scary. She said she always had food, but her friends didn’t always have food. It is just something my generation will never understand, is a food shortage.
If you have grandparents or great grandparents, I suggest you talk to them before it’s too late. I wish I could have talked to my great granddad more, but I was in 8th grade and took them for granted then. Ask them about it all. About their life as children, about their family growing up, and all their experiences. It’s like my generation talking about 9/11. You can’t get emotions and personal experiences in textbooks. Trust me. You won’t regret it. Cherish them while the greatest generation is still here.
