Reaching out to those who won World War II

I received a packet in the mail this week from Eunice (Carter) McKillip of Walnut Creek, Cal. I want to thank Eunice because her eyesight is failing and it took a special effort for her to write.

Eunice and her husband, Don McKillip, have been away from McCook for many years, but they felt it important to call Gazette readers attention to the sacrifices made by the men and women who served this nation during World War II.

They couldn't be more right.

I shudder to think what would have happened to this nation if Americans had not risen up in the 1940s to stop oppression. Our freedom ... our quality of life ... would have been lost.

Sadly, these many years later, many of the Americans who fought in World War II are no longer with us. U.S. Sen. Bob Dole, who hails from nearby Russell, Kan., spoke of this prior to the dedication of the World War II Memorial in May 2004.

"It took too long to get to this point. More than nine years have passed since Congress authorized the memorial. We've lost close to 4 million World War II vets in that time."

Since then, the nation has continued to lose World War II veterans at an accelerating rate. Even the youngest of the World War II soldiers are in their late 70s. Most are in their 80s and 90s.

Dr. McKillip, as an example, is 81. Many in this area remember Don. He was the coach at Red Willow when the Zephyrs enjoyed all-sport success and then became coach at McCook College, leading the Indians' football team to four straight winning seasons and national junior college recognition.

But this is not about Don as a coach. It is about Don -- and millions of other members of the Greatest Generation -- who served this nation during World War II.

Each day, hundreds more die, and it won't be too many years until very few are left. Because of this, I'm calling on you today to reach out to all those who had a part in winning the most devastating war in world history: World War II.

Make a special effort to shake their hands ... to give them a hug ... to write them a letter of gratitude. And, if you can get them to talk, let them tell you their stories.

We owe them big-time. They saved America's freedom. They made it possible for us to enjoy the privileges we have today.

Let's reach out to them. Let's hear their stories and share them with generations to come.