Tnl-News.com - Letter to the Editor

To the Editor:

Lest We Forget

How many of us remember World War II? Those who fought and lived through it, lived through the most stupendous struggle in the 7,000 years of recorded history. The destiny of 70 nations and 2,000,000,000 people were at stake. The homelands of more than three quarters of the population of the earth felt the iron hand of the war. More than 100,000,000, one out of every 20 human beings on the globe, were engaged in the fighting forces of belligerent nations.

The cost of this "War for Survival," with its destruction, devastation, and economic losses, was estimated at the sum of $1,000,000,000,000. Nations accumulated an indebtedness which far exceeded all the money in the world. The amount of money consumed in that war could have paid to build a home for every family in the world, or give an education to every child on earth.

We have documentary proof that the dictator Hitler and Emperor Hirohito's sole purpose was to enslave the entire world. If they had succeeded, hundreds of years of human progress would have been wiped out.

Our country was blessed with freedom-loving young men and women who were willing to put their own lives in the path of these vicious enemies. As a result, our own citizens did not have to put up with the privations and sufferings of war on our own soil.

We were proud of your young men and women who went out to face that vicious enemy. We constructed "Honor Rolls" on the squares of every city, town and village. To have your name on that honor roll meant that person was standing up to their obligations to their fellow man. They were all heroes in my eyes. I couldn't wait until I reached the age when I too could have my name on that honor roll. If it be a sin to covet honor then I must be a sinful person. Honor seems to be more precious than life. We owe those heroes a big debt of gratitude.

When Korea rolled around, the honor rolls disappeared. Our citizens did not understand a limited war and as a result they did not support our troops as they did during World War II. However, our service men and women went to face the enemy for the same noble reasons. We lost more souls in that three year war than we did in 10 years in Vietnam. During the Vietnam war our citizens seemed to take out their dislike of that war on the military personnel even though they were serving for the same noble reasons - "Freedom For All."

Then came a number of conflicts where our service men and women served honorably. Today we have young men and women serving honorably in Afghanistan and Iraq for the same noble reasons - "Freedom for All." Why don't we erect Honor Rolls for these heroes?

The Carroll County Veterans Service Office would like to do just that. They wish to include a photo and address on their wall. They call it their "Wall of Heroes." If you have a family member or know of someone from Carroll County who is serving in the military, the Veterans Service Commission would like to include them on this "Wall of Heroes." Three-by-five or 5x8 photos and addresses may be dropped off at the office, located at 160 2nd St. S.W., Carrollton, Ohio. For additional information, call 330-627-2590.

Charles R. Pearson, chaplain

American Legion Post 375, Malvern, Ohio 44644