Then on Veteran's day I attended a similar fete at the kindergarten age twin granddaughters' school. Third graders sang, but the K's did a nice choreographic routine with two little American flags each, the most memorable being "Grand Old Flag" and "Proud to be an American, where the twins faces during the "I won't forget the men who died" part were absolutely believable as they went down on one knee and hung their heads slightly, even though i know they were acting, since I'd seen them practice at home.
Before the program I was honored and humbled to meet and salute a WW-II Army Air Corps veteran. He was sharp as a tack, and moving under his own steam, albeit with the aid of a walker or a cane. He told me what kind of unit I was in, Troop transport and glider towing and what his role was.. unit armorer, and secondarily base defense. He told me the NCOs had M1 Carbines and the officer 1911's. I was able to say I have a copy of a 1911, and a real M1 Carbine. Then he told me they had Water Cooled M2 .50 caliber machine guns, dug in around the airfields for base defense. I was able to tell him that the M2 is still in use on tanks, AFVs, and other vehicles, soft and armored. He seemed impressed with that.
But although I didn't doubt him, I had never heard of a water cooled M2 so I googled it. and of course he was right. in fact I found this picture.
Yep, a water cooled .50 dug into a pit just as he described. But this one was in Italy, and I think he was in England and France.
The twins did a repeat performance the next evening. There I met a bunch of vets more or less my age, save one Army guy who was much younger. One my age was a draftee. One of the two Navy guys was on the Enterprise, and seemed to be surprised that I, as a wing wiper, knew she was a unique design, especially in her reactors. The other was an A-3 crewman. That's the Skywarrior and is one big airplane to be launching off a carrier with a catapult, the AF version was the B-66.
The twins were glad grandpa was there, and gave me quick smiles when I stood each time, but nothing like the one their big sister had given me. She had even been present once before, on the 4th of July at a fireworks show, when the veteran's were asked to stand and be recognized, so it's not like it was a suprise. Maybe the ability to brag to her peers? Maybe just a little?
The best part was when a third grader hurried past that WW-II vet, patted him on the shoulder and said "Hi Great Grandpa". He replied, with her name. That's what it's really all about.
