80 years ago this month

"Over half a million US soldiers, sailors and airmen were killed or wounded in Europe during World War II. Collectively, the world swore 'never again' to this kind of carnage. Really? Is that true? Right now, in our most current war in Europe, over the past three years there have been over 1,000,000 killed or wounded in Ukraine."

I listened to Donald Trump's address to the West Point graduating class yesterday. The day before, JD Vance had addressed the Midshipmen on their graduation. Both ceremonies were high class and well done. One the things President Trump brought up was what happened this month in Europe eight years ago. On May 8th we celebrate VE (Victory in Europe), the remembrance of the end of World War II. We recognize that day, but not as much as they do in Europe - it is a holiday over there. What Trump was amazed at was simply this - without the entrance of the United States into that war, today everybody in Europe would be speaking German or maybe Russian.

This was the second time the United States had gone overseas to Europe to save their bacon. The first was World War I - the "Great War". As we know from history, that war came to an end on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Now in America, we call that day Veteran's Day. But have no doubt - in both of the world wars, the United States spilled a lot of blood in Europe just to keep them free.

Trump made up his mind before the West Point event. He was going to make the victory in Europe for World War II a national holiday in America. But since we already have a non-working holiday in May (Memorial Day), World War II VE day will be a working holiday. On Memorial Day, we remember all the fallen from all the wars. On World War II VE, we will remember the victors of that war - both living and dead.

80 years ago, this month. That is when the horrors of World War II came to an end in Europe. On April 30th, 1945, one of the vilest men to walk on this planet ended his own life. That was the beginning of the end for Nazi Germany. In those 80 years since Germany surrendered, Germany has re-unified and become a strong ally of the United States. A cornerstone of NATO. Ironically, both Japan and Germany, arch enemies of ours in World War II, are now strong allies. Friends. Trading partners. 

Over half a million US soldiers, sailors and airmen were killed or wounded in Europe during World War II. Collectively, the world swore "never again" to this kind of carnage. Really? Is that true? Right now, in our most current war in Europe, over the past three years there have been over 1,000,000 killed or wounded in Ukraine. But wait - what happened to the outrage resulting from World War II? The Soviet Union (Russia) alone had 27 million killed or wounded. 

Memories are short. I guess that is why we have the famous quote, "Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it."