We are rapidly losing our WW II vets now. The youngest of the vets are probably in their mid 80s.
They are indeed. My dear old dad, WWII and Korean War veteran with the Canadian Army, passed away at 85 more than four years ago. They were indeed the greatest generation but they can be faulted for one thing. In their desire to give their children a better life, free from the poverty of the depression and the fear of the war years, they coddled their children and left us a lack of appreciation of what it means to sacrifice. They were motivated by love, but they sheltered us from the kick in the rear that we should have occasionally received. As much as we admire the accomplishments and sacrifices of our parents who are of the war generation, they shielded us from the harsh realities of life. The boomers, with the exception of those who served on the front lines with the military, became the entitlement generation. We squandered the legacy bequeathed to us by our parents. We now have an obligation to put things straight so that our grandchildren are not condemned to return to the economic chaos of the 30s.