I was on a plane to Denver, restlessly surfing through the 24 channels of satellite TV as I prepared for another week in the mountain west, when I came to the History Channel, and an episode of “Band of Brothers“.
“Band of Brothers” was originally an HBO miniseries that aired back in 2001 – it was the story of Easy Company in World War II, from the time they parachuted into Normandy on D-Day, to Germany’s surrender.
Since then I’ve also read (and wrote about) about Easy Company’s leader, Major Dick Winters, and his book “Beyond Band of Brothers“.
So I stopped my channel clicking and started watching this episode – it was the one about Easy Company’s defense of Bastogne in the winter of 1944. Of all the chapters in the story, this was the one that best illustrated the horrors of war – the men, bogged down in a forest, cold, wet, tired and with nothing but foxholes to protect them, were mercilessly pelted with artillery fire for days but somehow held their ground.
I tried to imagine what it was really like to be there with them – but I really couldn’t. All I could do was watch this recreation and marvel at the bravery of those young men, and once again grieve for those who lost their lives in the defense of liberty. And just like the first time I watched it back in 2001, I fought back tears.
It was overwhelming me – and it took all the willpower I could muster to keep from openly sobbing, especially at the end of the episode when the actual survivors of the battle spoke about it, and the courage of their brothers-in-arms who didn’t made it out of that forest alive.
It reminded me of a great quote of Dick Winter’s, from his book :
“Only a few heroes came back from the war. The real heroes lie under white crosses in North Africa, Europe and across the Pacific. I still cannot visit the American cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach without crying for the men who never had the opportunity of achieving the peace that many of us have enjoyed. I know plenty of heroes, but I am certainly not one.”
I landed in Denver with the lump still in my throat, my perspective realigned, and my thoughts and prayers with all those brave souls who have sacrificed their lives for our country throughout our 231 year history.
Those sacrifices continue even today, for war seemingly never sleeps.
On this Memorial Day 2007, I dedicate this post to them. You will never be forgotten.
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