Now and then. 72yrs ago today.

[Blind Owl]

No, I wasn't referring to you. It seems some of the younger guys don't know, and it's our job to make sure they do.

Gotcha. I'm Canadian, so I'll apologize again. Sorry.

Yes, I concur. It's sad to see almost an entire generation who takes for granted all that they have. They fail to realize that their freedom stands because of tremendous sacrifice and at a terrible cost.

My children will be raised with this knowledge.

 

[Designated Drunk]

I only learned last year that my great uncle (still alive) was a US marine who fought on Iwo Jima - he never had spoken a word of it to me.

I have no greater respect than for those who fought in the most terrible of wars - it is our duty to remember their sacrifice, though they may wish to forget it themselves. May the beaches of Normandy remain serene, yet never fail to be a staunch reminder to those of us who were not witness to its horrors.

 

[Xian-Luc Picard]

My U.S. flag was flown outside my house yesterday in remembrance.

 

[RipVanDan]

I loved it when my grandpa used to share his war stories with us. As a kid he only told us the funny stuff, As an adult I can imagine the crap he went through and only gave us the tip of the iceberg. I miss that old fart.

 

[AstroSam]

Berlin at the end of WW2 and today - photographs with slider:

http://www.stern.de/panorama/berlin-am-ende-des-2--weltkriegs-und-heute---fotos-im-schieberegler-der-geschichte-6200848.html

http://interaktiv.morgenpost.de/berlin-1945-2015/

This following picture gallery perfectly shows the German architectural eyesores when rebuilding some cities after WW2:
http://www.suedkurier.de/galerie/grafiken/Pforzheim-vor-70-Jahren-und-heute-Unser-Vorher-Nachher-Vergleich-in-Bildern;art1015407,7640873
More than an ugly sin ... but even at that former years, there where lots and lots of bribemoney for wiping the cities and build those concrete building blocks instead of sustainable urban development.

Finally, for those who are interested: Operation Gomorrha almost totally destroyed the 2nd largest city of Germany, Hamburg. Some pics (starting at no.#9):
http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/operation-gomorrha-die-bombardierung-von-hamburg-1943-fotostrecke-110410-9.html