Desert Sun writer Denise Goolsby wears her uncle's World War II Army jacket while holding photos of her other uncles who served in the war. / Michael Snyder The Desert Sun
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An olive drab World War II Army jacket hanging in my closet reminds me, daily, of the sacrifices made by our country's servicemen and women.
The jacket was given to me by my uncle Cy Lampasi, who served in the medical corps. He didn't talk much about his experiences in the war, but he knew how much I loved the military — my dad is a Korean War veteran and I used to wear his uniforms around the house when I was young.
So he entrusted me with his jacket, campaign ribbons and other pieces of military memorabilia the last time I saw him, in the late 1980s. He died a few years later.
The gesture has always meant so much to me and, now, as I write stories about our World War II veterans, it's taken on an even greater importance.
I'm now in the process of researching Uncle Cy's service as well as the service of my other uncles. This project has inspired me to learn more about this crucial and pivotal time in our country's history.
