So it’s occurred to me that this year marks 70 years since the end of World War II. Officially the war ended September 2, 1945.

For me, World War II was my grandparent generation, for those that are younger, I know it’s your great-grandparents.

On the left up there is my maternal grand-uncle Elmo. He died on D-Day. If he’d survived the war he’d be 91 now, the same age as my only surviving grandparent. As it is, he died at 20.

On the right is my paternal grandfather’s ship, the USS Louisville. He did make it through the war and went on to have five kids, including my dad. He died of cancer in 1986.

It’s strange to me to realize that we’ll probably lose the last World War II vets in my lifetime. I know some of this probably feels like ancient history, but on the other hand, it doesn’t seem so long ago to me.