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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThese weren\u2019t mere names in a history book \u2014 they were living, breathing heroes whose stories Bass would soon come to know intimately. The trip became even more sentimental when Bass\u2019 son, an active-duty soldier, joined as a volunteer, filling in for another participant who had to cancel at the last minute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHaving my son there with me added so much joy to my heart,\u201d Bass recalled. \u201cHe helped take great care of our volunteers, soldiers, and their family members.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bass learned a lot from this life-changing experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI learned so much European and American history that I admit just hadn\u2019t stuck with me when I\u2019d been taught it during school. I was truly amazed at the hardships and bravery that our World War II veterans endured.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The stories that emerged from this journey were as heartwarming as they were heartbreaking. Bass recalled visiting a village where two American planes crash-landed during the war. Each year, the village holds a ceremony to honor the soldiers who lost their lives, reading off each name in a moving tribute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOne lady I met there told me that she had never met a World War II veteran. I introduced her to \u2018Rondo,\u2019 a veteran from Montana, and she cried, so overcome to meet him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Bass saw the reverence the people of Normandy had for American soldiers, it nearly brought tears to her eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe schoolchildren craved speaking with our veterans. They took selfies, got autographs, and treated them with such love and respect. They thanked our veterans repeatedly for their freedom. Everyone we met in Normandy treated our veterans as if they were rock stars. In their eyes and my own, they were better than rock stars. They were freedom-givers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The impact of this journey was not lost on Bass, who found herself reflecting on the freedoms we often take for granted, leading her to attend the 80th anniversary in Normandy as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cVolunteering with Honoring Veteran Legacies and partnering with Veterans Back to Normandy has made me appreciate my own freedom so much more,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The veterans found healing in returning to the places they had once fought so bravely. For many, it was a chance to make peace with their past and witness firsthand the gratitude of those they had helped liberate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe World War II veterans who are visiting Normandy now are at a different place in life, at or nearing a century old. Seeing the effects of what they did, feeling the blatant gratitude Normandy showers upon them all these years later, brings a sense of peace.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n We are surrounded by heroes \u2014 men and women who have given so much for our country yet ask for so little in return. Bass\u2019 advice to us all is to connect with our local veterans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI challenge each of you to talk to a veteran, to show up at events sponsored by or honoring our veterans, to actively seek out and thank the men and women who were willing to lay down their lives if need be so that our flag can continue to fly high.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bass plans to continue her volunteer work and accompany more veterans on their return to Normandy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs long as I\u2019m wanted and needed, I\u2019ll continue to make the annual trip to Normandy. I\u2019ve fallen in love with hundred-year-old men, and it\u2019s been the greatest honor of my life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is up to us to listen, to learn, and to ensure that our veterans\u2019 sacrifices are never forgotten. GN<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" WE RARELY wake up asking, \u201cHow will I change the world today?\u201d When we face the blare of an alarm, most of us instinctively reach for the snooze button, begrudgingly start our day, and confront the daunting to-do list on our phones. But for our nation\u2019s World War II heroes, there was no option to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":23140,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23138","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stories"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/goodnewsmags.com\/manchester\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/10\/2-2-1024x683.png\")
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