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I never served.
But you did.
And I've read the stories recounting the battles, the courage, the bullets and your sacrifices.
I never served.
But I've heard of the horrors, the bloodshed, the frigid nights, the sweltering days.
I never served.
But I've shaken hands with heroes and paid tribute to the fallen - always with a grateful heart.
I never served.
But every night, I tuck my children in a blanket of freedom, stitched so long ago by you in faraway and unforgettable places that history still recalls: Guadalcanal, the Ardennes Forest, Corregidor, Omaha Beach, Midway, Salerno, Iwo Jima, Cherbourg and Tokyo Bay.
Starting today and for the next 13 months, The Desert Sun will pay tribute to those Coachella Valley soldiers, sailors, Marines, pilots, paratroopers, doctors and nurses who braved the terrors of World War II and are still with us.
We're grateful for the chance to profile these men and women as we prepare for 2010 and the 65th anniversary of the end of the most calamitous conflict in history.
Look for frequent profiles of local World War II veterans who relive their experiences and reveal their deep love of family and country. We also are collecting their stories - in words and video - at mydesert.com/worldwarII.
I never served, but I'm humbled by the opportunity to honor you, the Coachella Valley's members of America's “Greatest Generation.”
<b>Rick Green </b>is executive editor of The Desert Sun. He can be reached at (760) 778-4637 or rick.green@thedesertsun.com
