I have two grandfathers that fought in this war. One of them passed away earlier this year. Neither of them spoke of it much. My other grandfather that is still living has begun to share a few stories. They fascinate me.
While I never had the honor of defending my country, I will have the honor of sharing the stories about how my grandfathers both did, with my children.
Think me a geek, but today I listened to audio excerpts of President Theodore Roosevelt's address to Congress asking for a declaration of war. It still sends chills up my spine. Below, I included links to copies of his full address to Congress on the 8th as well as his address to the nation on the 9th. Both are powerful speeches. I included quotes from them both.
I told you guys I was patriotic.
Joint Address to Congress Leading to a Declaration of War Against Japan
December 8, 1941
Yesterday, December 7, 1941 -- a date which will live in infamy -- the United
States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces
of the Empire of Japan.
On the Declaration of War with Japan
December 9, 1941
I repeat that the United States can accept no result save victory, final and
complete. Not only must the shame of Japanese treachery be wiped out, but the
sources of international brutality, wherever they exist, must be absolutely and
finally broken.In my Message to the Congress yesterday I said that we "will make very
certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again." In order to
achieve that certainty, we must begin the great task that is before us by
abandoning once and for all the illusion that we can ever again isolate
ourselves from the rest of humanity.
2 comments:
Just reading those quotes gives me chills. Thanks for this little spot of history. My husband and I will be listening to the links after we watch the office tonight. I know he would really dig it. If you have any of those stories on hand (from your grandfather) I would love to hear them if you would like to share them. :)
Oh and yes I agree, eggnog rocks! ;)
I think it was president Franklin Roosevelt that made that speech. When I was in high school, we played a musical piece by the title, December 7, 1941, it was an awesome piece of music and in the middle it, we played an excerpt of that speech. Still gives me chills too.
I also had the honor of interviewing a veteran my sophomore year of high school. He served in WWI, WWII, and Korea. He lied about his age to go to war for the first time at 16. He was an amazing, courageous man... and he kept me captivated with his stories for six and a half hours of interview time. He never had any children that I am aware of, but he made me proud to know him and proud to be an American. His name was Colonel Edmund Buttery.
And I can't stand eggnog. ;)
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