Dear Families of WWII Veterans Community,
I am writing to thank everyone involved with Families of World War II Veterans for the support awarded to me for a second year through the Aetna sponsored scholarship. The financial assistance provided by your organization is a tremendous help to me in a practical sense - I am immensely appreciative of the financial aid you have previously and continue to provide to me - and additionally, being an ambassador of your program and what my grandfather fought to defend makes me so very honored to be carrying on his legacy. Everyone in my family is extremely thankful for the assistance that your organization offers and its work to remind Americans of the sacrifices of those who came before them. Even though I never got to meet my grandfather, all my living relatives have told me repeatedly that he would be ‘just so proud' of what I am representing and how his efforts are being carried forward.
This summer my mother and I had the opportunity to visit Normandy, Arromanches, Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer with a school group. It is nearly unbelievable to think that this now peaceful and beautiful coast was once the site of such terrible pain and suffering. The rows and rows of crosses and the memorials and educational sites that we visited, though, helped us both learn a great deal about what took place and how it may have been to be present on those most horrific days. While we were certainly very sad to consider the injuries and deaths that occurred, the willingness of thousands of men and women to risk their lives to protect the freedom of the entire world – so many millions of people that they did not even know – was even more impactful. I will never forget hearing that the men ‘were not expected to survive’ but despite every aspect being against them, they moved forward bravely to fight for what was right.
I will never be as noble and brave as those who participated in WWII, but if in some tiny way I can help keep that integrity alive, then I will have done something to honor my grandfather and those who served alongside him. Carrying out that effort will be a goal for me, and the support of Families of World War II Veterans helps me every day to move toward this goal.
Thank you, again, for your generosity.
Sincerely,
Caraline Laffler,
Appalachian State University
