Meridian Magazine :: Photo Essay : Reunion of the 'Greatest Generation'

Reunion of the 'Greatest Generation'
A Photographic Essay

Part Three

This town became a place of great celebration for the Memorial Day weekend. More than 150,000 veterans of World War II came to attend the festivities. About four million of the American Veterans of World War II yet live. They are dying off at a rate of between 1,500 and 1,800 a day.

Many samples of the American Arsenal were brought in to remind these soldiers of the tools they worked with in the 1940’s.

We certainly saw lots of white-haired men.
We loved every minute of it.

Many had stories to swap as they walked by the various displays and saw the old tanks they used to drive.

The posters and signage were reproductions of the originals from World War II days. It was humbling to be in the presence of so many heroes.

It was fascinating to see the weaponry of the 1940’s but much more fascinating to see the airmen, soldiers, sailors and marines. What a sight!

I captured this picture of a veteran from Indiana. He turned and looked at me right after I took the shot and said, “Oh, am I in your way?” I said, “No, you’re just who I wanted.” He said, “Oh, are you out taking pictures of a bunch of old men?” I said, “No sir, I’m out taking pictures of my heroes.” “Oh!” he exclaimed, “I’m not a hero. I’m just an ordinary guy.” I said, “Where did you serve, Sir?” He composed his words and choked a little, and responded as if he were reporting in: “Battle of the Bulge. Infantry and rifleman. And I was lucky. A lot of my buddies didn’t make it.”

I had to take a picture of him with his adoring son from Minnesota. His son had convinced him to come to Washington and the father was so glad he had come. After I took this picture (which is my favorite of the nearly 400 images I took that afternoon) this veteran said, “tomorrow I’m getting together with a couple of my fox hole buddies. I can’t wait.”

I love the way these “old men” are not rushed about anything. There’s a calmness that comes with age and experience that I admire. We saw a lot of that on these days here in Washington.

Click here to go to the final part of this great Reunion