Every day, a dwindling number of World War II veterans leaves this Earth to join their comrades who have passed on before them. Monuments are not enough to pay tribute to their service and the huge sacrifices made so that this country can remain free.

I have had the pleasure of meeting several WW2 veterans over the last 30 years. Soldiers, sailors, pilots that have served around the world with stories too numerous for one post. I do want to share with you two recollections that have stood out to me:

One of the first veterans I ever met was a sailor who was stationed on Ford Island when Pearl Harbor was attacked on Dec. 7, 1941. He remembered seeing planes buzzing over the harbor, and like everyone else, thought it was American. It wasn't until he saw the first bomb dropped, hitting an airplane hangar a few hundred feet away from where he was standing, that he soon realized this was an air raid by the Japanese. He watched as the battleships moored at "Battleship Row" were getting bombed and torpedoed. The noise from the planes, guns and explosions were deafening. He watched as the battleship USS Arizona blew up with a huge fireball. He helped to try to save burning seaplanes while the attack was still in progress. After it was over he did what he could to help those who were wounded. In the early afternoon when he finally found time for a very quick bite to eat, he surveyed the whole scene and was in utter disbelief at the devastation. He told me of seeing men in complete shock, unable to do anything. Others were crying uncontrollably. Later he was ordered to assist in an improvised machine gun post as it was expected that the Japanese would return for another attack. He remembered rumors of an expected invasion of Hawaii. No one knew what to expect, but he told me that that night at the machine gun post was the longest night of his life.

Another veteran I met was an MP (Military Police) stationed at Los Alamos where the first atomic bomb exploded in a test in July, 1945. Secrecy of course, was paramount. If we think we are annoyed at security at an airport today, imagine what he had to go through! Back then there were different levels of security clearances for all the different workers involved and from what he told me it was insanely thorough from checking badges to all mail correspondence. His post was miles away when the bomb detonated in the morning. After the bomb went off, he looked up at the brightly lit huge mushroom cloud and repeatedly muttered to himself in stunned disbelief, "Oh my God".

So there you have it. Two stories. One at the beginning of America's involvement, and another at the beginning of the end. If you see a veteran, please stop and show him your appreciation for his service. They are heroes that will not be around much longer. We owe them so much. Hear and read their stories so that their memories will be passed on from one generation to another.

It is the least we can do for them. Lest we forget.