On May 14th of 2002 my mother died at the age of 80. She lived to enjoy her 60th anniversary at the Lemon Grass restaurant on Fulton Avenue with all of her friends.
On the day directly following her burial, my two brothers and I attended static displays of two WWII aircraft at McClellan AFB:
The Dragon And His Tail (a B-24 Liberator) and the
Nine O Nine, a B-17 Flying Fortress.
My father declined to attend.
Whilst I shot numerous photographs of both planes back in 2002, this elderly man sat down midway in the fuselage of the B-17. He sighed. I walked past him.
He was the age of my father. His 80s.
“Right here,” he said to himself as I passed. “I could be radio or waist or upper.”
I didn’t exactly know what he wanted. He seemed to want his privacy.
He wanted silence. That is what I gave him.
I don’t know who he was or what he did.
Here he is. One man. Of The Greatest Generation.
Memories cascaded.
I left him alone with his memories. He deserved that at the least.
To you he is a fleeting photograph. To me he is like my father.
Further, regarding my Memorial Day post, I received this e-mail from a friend:
Your blog yesterday was so wonderful. The photos, poem and expressions, really touched me. I woke up yesterday thinking about the price of freedom – I was praying for our deployed troops, their families and the families of those who have lost their warriors.
I was reflecting on my Granddad’s service in WWII and how many soldiers, past and present, have put it all on the line so that I have the freedom to pray, when and where I want to, and to do all of the other things that freedom in this great nation affords.
When I came across your blog, I had to share it with my kids to show them the meaning of Memorial Day. All of the photos are so moving. The elderly man in the wheelchair (only one standing when Colors are presented during the parade) really struck a chord with my mother – she remembers a day when everyone would have stood, without question.
I was especially emotional when looking at the photo of the military wife lying across of the grave of her husband – a picture of the true cost of freedom.
I just wanted to let you know that you helped me teach a valuable lesson to my children that I pray they never forget. Thanks.
Thank you ever so much. I cannot repay your appreciation which, frankly, does not include me but should, truly, encapsulate our American warriors. I am mostly at a loss for words. I can only say that, in my opinion, you point your children in the proper direction for America’s future.
BZ
