Hi all, I’d like to share a short story for Memorial Day -

My grandfather was a navigator during WWII on “Hell’s Belle”- a B-24 bomber in the 465th squadron wherein he and his crew of hellions flew bombing missions over Italy and went into various other parts of Europe to help liberate those from Nazi control.

Over the years, my dad relayed some of his stories, but one in particular sticks out today.

While on one of their routine missions, they were ambushed by a group of Nazi fighter planes which broke the squadron’s formation, causing aerial chaos. In one pass, a fighter plane shot through the body of their aircraft and struck a few of his fellow crew members. He recalled having held his best friend while the pilot worked their way out of the sky.

He died in my grandfather’s arms on their way back to base.

Liberty is a strong word. Freedom, stronger still.

Our service men and women have been and will always be the guardians of our great Nation and in some cases, other parts of the world.

But for those who didn’t make it back home, for those who paid the ultimate sacrifice and lost their lives, we salute you and remember you on this day.

Please take a moment to remember those that fought and died for what we have today. We, along with our country, wouldn’t be here without their selflessness.