Have you ever heard of the Sullivan Brothers? Their lives were given in service to their country in World War II. Albert, Francis, George, Joseph, and Madison all served together on the same Navy ship (USS Juneau). They were all killed. You can find out about the Sullivan Brothers at a Navy history site.
The Sullivan Brothers (pictured left) were real American heroes.Here is what Wikipedia has on the Sullivan Brothers:
....The brothers' parents were notified of their deaths on January 12, 1943. That morning, the boys' father, Thomas, was preparing to go to work when three men in uniform, a lieutenant commander, a doctor and a chief petty officer, approached his front door. "I have some news for you about your boys," the naval officer said.
"Which one?" asked Thomas. "I'm sorry," the officer replied. "All five."[2]
The brothers left a sister, Genevieve. Albert was survived by a wife and son. The “Fighting Sullivan Brothers” were national heroes. President Franklin RooseveltPope Pius XII sent a silver religious medal and rosary with his message of regret. The Iowa Senate and House adopted a formal resolution of tribute to the Sullivan brothers. sent a letter of condolence to Tom and Alleta.
Thomas and Alleta Sullivan made speaking appearances at war plants and shipyards on behalf of the war effort. Later, Alleta participated in the launching of a destroyer USS The Sullivans, named after her sons...[3]
Many of us have relatives and friends in the current wars or those who served in previous wars. My Mother's brother was a radio man in a B-17 bomber in World War II. His entire crew was killed over Germany. He was just a young man in his early twenties.
While my daughters were teenagers, the Ohio State University Airport had a display of restored B-17's open to the public. We were able to tour one of the planes and I saw a small desk similar to where my uncle worked and typed out the codes. The interior of the plane was so small, we were all amazed by the amount of personnel that fit inside the plane. It was something that I cannot forget.
Last week, we honored our veterans with a special day. We need to acknowledge our men and women in uniform and their families every single day. If you see someone in a military uniform, offer them a smile, a handshake, and a thank you. It will go a long way.
