Where would we be if not for them?

The village in which I grew up has an interesting claim to fame. Moosup, Connecticut has held, and continues to hold, the longest running annual V-J Day parade in the world. (That's Victory over Japan Day for you history buffs.) This year, the second Sunday of August was the fourteenth and coincided exactly with the date of the first Japanese surrender. I remember as a five-or-so year old, watching the dozens of local World War Two veterans marching or riding down Main street. I didn't really understand all the ceremony then, other than to know it was a good place to be if you wanted to have candy tossed at you. Now, having attended what will probably be my last V-J Day parade for quite a while, and seeing the six or so remaining veterans fading away, I think I understand it a bit better. The greatest generation is nearly gone. But we are building a new one. I just hope that in the future we can all drink beer and clap and pay homage and thanks to our brave soldiers as we attend the first annual V-T Day parade.