This week, I was treated with an amazing honor.
I have studied World War II in school, watched all the movies and played the video games. It has always been the most intriguing war to me because it was truly a fight against injustice and evil. Hitler and the Nazis were marching across Europe, leaving a trail of blood and wreckage behind them, and somebody had to step up and stop him.
America was fighting for something the nation itself was founded upon: freedom. And nobody made that clearer to me than two Bainbridge resident who were there. The front-page feature in this edition is dedicated to one of the bloodiest battles ever fought in history. Frances Lee and T.P. Bryant both were at the invasion of Normandy on D-Day.
Their accounts of what happened are some of the most powerful stories I’ve ever heard, both gut wrenching and tear-inducing. At times during both their interviews, I had to sit back and chuckle in disbelief. There’s no way for me to comprehend the courage, state of mind and sheer guts it took to make it through some of their situations.
They were the first people I’ve met who were part of D-Day, and it was a true honor to interview them.
All of the textbooks, tests, movies and video games I’ve churned through can never translate what those men and women sacrificed to take down one of the most diabolical men to ever walk the earth.
Spending time with Lee and Bryant was such a pleasure that I hope to do it again soon. The perspective of “America’s Greatest Generation” is refreshing, and both bring all of that to the table and more.
I salute all the men and women who fought for this country’s freedom. But I would like to give a very special thank you to Lee and Bryant for sharing some of the most amazing stories I’ve ever heard.