| General Non-Fiction posted December 10, 2018 |
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A speech I gave at a recognition dinner
WWII Veteran Speech
by Earl Corp
Hi, I'm the liberal media you've heard so much about. Just kidding, if that was true Mary Jane Scott wouldn't have let me in her house.
We're here tonight to honor members of the "Greatest Generation."
While the term greatest generation may have been coined by Tom Brokaw to market books, no truer words have ever been spoken.
These are the men/people who scratched and clawed their way out of a crippling world-wide Depression only to be asked to trade in their innocence and youth to keep the world safe from tyranny.
They left small hometowns, such as Greenville from all parts of the nation and headed for battlefields no one had heard of, let alone could find on a map.
They went to places like Iwo Jima, Guadalcanal, the Huertgen Forest, Normandy, Kasserine Pass, Bastogne, Tarawa and many others which are now prominently featured in history books.
They went to these foreign lands, did their duty and came home. Once home they assimilated back into society. They got jobs, married, and raised families. They coached little league, fought fires, voted and went to church.
A couple of weeks ago I had the honor of listening to stories from eight of these men. When I say honor I really mean it. My grandpa was a WWII vet and he died when I was 11, so I never got to bond with him over his experiences.
That's why listening to these vets was important to me, it was like I got to spend an extra hour with my grandpa.
And it's because of Men like Don Bee you were able to vote two weeks ago.
It's because of men like Ed Loreno you were able to go to a church of your own choosing last Sunday.
It's because of men like Lawrence Williamson you're allowed to complain about elected officials without fear of being hauled away to jail.
It's because of men like Roy Ritter your children and grandchildren don't have to learn German and Japanese in school (unless they want to.)
It's because of men like Bob Dorfeld you're allowed to own guns.
It's because of men like Charles Scott that women are allowed to vote (yes that's right it's all his fault.)
It's because of men like Don Carpenter we don't live in fear of cruel or unusual punishment.
It's because of men like Dick Landfried that life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are guaranteed.
These men and many like them embodied what it meant to be part of the Greatest Generation. Here are some attributes and characteristics that are demonstrative of these men.
1. Personal Responsibility
There was no finger pointing or CYA by these guys, they made a mistake and they owned it.
2. Humility
Most of them don't feel they were heroes, they all felt that the true heroes didn't make it home.
3. Work Ethic
They knew the meaning of hard work. I wouldn't doubt it if most of them could still work me into the ground.
4. Prudent Saving
Growing up during the depression, they learned to make do or go without. Can you see today's youth living through rationing?
5. Faithful Commitment
Four of the couples I talked to had been married 70 plus years. Most of the guys had retired after 30 years at the same job. You just don't see that kind of commitment anymore.
Please join me in a round of applause for our WWII veterans.
Write a Speech contest entry
Hi, I'm the liberal media you've heard so much about. Just kidding, if that was true Mary Jane Scott wouldn't have let me in her house.
We're here tonight to honor members of the "Greatest Generation."
While the term greatest generation may have been coined by Tom Brokaw to market books, no truer words have ever been spoken.
These are the men/people who scratched and clawed their way out of a crippling world-wide Depression only to be asked to trade in their innocence and youth to keep the world safe from tyranny.
They left small hometowns, such as Greenville from all parts of the nation and headed for battlefields no one had heard of, let alone could find on a map.
They went to places like Iwo Jima, Guadalcanal, the Huertgen Forest, Normandy, Kasserine Pass, Bastogne, Tarawa and many others which are now prominently featured in history books.
They went to these foreign lands, did their duty and came home. Once home they assimilated back into society. They got jobs, married, and raised families. They coached little league, fought fires, voted and went to church.
A couple of weeks ago I had the honor of listening to stories from eight of these men. When I say honor I really mean it. My grandpa was a WWII vet and he died when I was 11, so I never got to bond with him over his experiences.
That's why listening to these vets was important to me, it was like I got to spend an extra hour with my grandpa.
And it's because of Men like Don Bee you were able to vote two weeks ago.
It's because of men like Ed Loreno you were able to go to a church of your own choosing last Sunday.
It's because of men like Lawrence Williamson you're allowed to complain about elected officials without fear of being hauled away to jail.
It's because of men like Roy Ritter your children and grandchildren don't have to learn German and Japanese in school (unless they want to.)
It's because of men like Bob Dorfeld you're allowed to own guns.
It's because of men like Charles Scott that women are allowed to vote (yes that's right it's all his fault.)
It's because of men like Don Carpenter we don't live in fear of cruel or unusual punishment.
It's because of men like Dick Landfried that life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are guaranteed.
These men and many like them embodied what it meant to be part of the Greatest Generation. Here are some attributes and characteristics that are demonstrative of these men.
1. Personal Responsibility
There was no finger pointing or CYA by these guys, they made a mistake and they owned it.
2. Humility
Most of them don't feel they were heroes, they all felt that the true heroes didn't make it home.
3. Work Ethic
They knew the meaning of hard work. I wouldn't doubt it if most of them could still work me into the ground.
4. Prudent Saving
Growing up during the depression, they learned to make do or go without. Can you see today's youth living through rationing?
5. Faithful Commitment
Four of the couples I talked to had been married 70 plus years. Most of the guys had retired after 30 years at the same job. You just don't see that kind of commitment anymore.
Please join me in a round of applause for our WWII veterans.
We're here tonight to honor members of the "Greatest Generation."
While the term greatest generation may have been coined by Tom Brokaw to market books, no truer words have ever been spoken.
These are the men/people who scratched and clawed their way out of a crippling world-wide Depression only to be asked to trade in their innocence and youth to keep the world safe from tyranny.
They left small hometowns, such as Greenville from all parts of the nation and headed for battlefields no one had heard of, let alone could find on a map.
They went to places like Iwo Jima, Guadalcanal, the Huertgen Forest, Normandy, Kasserine Pass, Bastogne, Tarawa and many others which are now prominently featured in history books.
They went to these foreign lands, did their duty and came home. Once home they assimilated back into society. They got jobs, married, and raised families. They coached little league, fought fires, voted and went to church.
A couple of weeks ago I had the honor of listening to stories from eight of these men. When I say honor I really mean it. My grandpa was a WWII vet and he died when I was 11, so I never got to bond with him over his experiences.
That's why listening to these vets was important to me, it was like I got to spend an extra hour with my grandpa.
And it's because of Men like Don Bee you were able to vote two weeks ago.
It's because of men like Ed Loreno you were able to go to a church of your own choosing last Sunday.
It's because of men like Lawrence Williamson you're allowed to complain about elected officials without fear of being hauled away to jail.
It's because of men like Roy Ritter your children and grandchildren don't have to learn German and Japanese in school (unless they want to.)
It's because of men like Bob Dorfeld you're allowed to own guns.
It's because of men like Charles Scott that women are allowed to vote (yes that's right it's all his fault.)
It's because of men like Don Carpenter we don't live in fear of cruel or unusual punishment.
It's because of men like Dick Landfried that life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are guaranteed.
These men and many like them embodied what it meant to be part of the Greatest Generation. Here are some attributes and characteristics that are demonstrative of these men.
1. Personal Responsibility
There was no finger pointing or CYA by these guys, they made a mistake and they owned it.
2. Humility
Most of them don't feel they were heroes, they all felt that the true heroes didn't make it home.
3. Work Ethic
They knew the meaning of hard work. I wouldn't doubt it if most of them could still work me into the ground.
4. Prudent Saving
Growing up during the depression, they learned to make do or go without. Can you see today's youth living through rationing?
5. Faithful Commitment
Four of the couples I talked to had been married 70 plus years. Most of the guys had retired after 30 years at the same job. You just don't see that kind of commitment anymore.
Please join me in a round of applause for our WWII veterans.
 Recognized |
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The joke I used in the beginning is a true story, she stopped me on the front porch and asked if I was the one writing all the Anti Trump articles. I said, "No ma'am." She then stepped aside and said, "come on in."
I actually interviewed all the men named plus one who had been a guard at the Nuremburg Trials.
All these guys were in their 90s and one was 98 and still driving. His drivers license expires the day after his 100th birthday.
According to the US Department of Veterans Affairs, we are losing 372 veterans per day and only 620,000 of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II were alive in 2016. If you know any WWII veterans, talk to them before we lose their stories.
Thanks to VFW Memes for the artwork.
Pays
one point
and 2 member cents. I actually interviewed all the men named plus one who had been a guard at the Nuremburg Trials.
All these guys were in their 90s and one was 98 and still driving. His drivers license expires the day after his 100th birthday.
According to the US Department of Veterans Affairs, we are losing 372 veterans per day and only 620,000 of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II were alive in 2016. If you know any WWII veterans, talk to them before we lose their stories.
Thanks to VFW Memes for the artwork.
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