Recently, while thoroughly enjoying some of my mom's homemade pizza, I was wondering, I wondered if Rev. Jeremiah Wright liked pizza or ice cream, both of which are inventions of "rich white European Italians", I then pondered upon WWII, where of all the ethnic groups who served in that war, Italian Americans made up the largest ethnic group. I then further pondered, how maybe it was all in vain, that my father, during WWII, served his country with honor, fought in II Theaters of War, Pacific & Atlantic, on a Naval Destroyer, called the USS Loy, a Destroyer that shot down six Kamikaze planes (it's in the Naval Archives, for any doubters), one of which while breaking apart upon entry,while being shot at, hit the ship and partially sank it, resulting in numerous fatal casulties. This same ship also, avoided a countless barrage of torpedo fire from relentless German U-Boats. After savoring my last piece of pizza, I came to the conclusion that no, definitely not, it was certainly not in vain, how my father and all other brave men who served in WWII; for if not for their gallant efforts, if Hitler would have prevailed, if Japan was victorious: Jeremiah Wright may had never come to be, and if he was able to, he would certainly not have the freedom of speech that so many brave men fought for in WWII. Just a little something that I was thinking about, while eating my garlic laden pizza.
WWII vets, themilitantcatholic, Eight years ago, Geralyn and I moved the family north to be close to her parents, Joe and Doris. Joe was a quiet man who knew how to get things done. I'm an ideas guy, while he was preeminently practical. During the war, Joe was in Patton's army as it slugged its way through France. He specialized in communications and did his work well. In the front yard of their home, he planted a flagpole in the middle of a 150 yr. old grindstone. the stone must weigh thousands of pounds! Anyway, everyday he would proudly fly Old Faithful and respectfully lower her at twilight. He loved his country and lived his Faith, simply and with great devotion. God loves such perseverance. In 2005, the Lord took Joe home and I'm sure he's been generously rewarded! Your father and my father-in-law: may we prove to be valiant warriors as were they! Are there leftovers or did you polish off the pizza? Safe in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary!
Great story about your father-in-law, very uplifting. WWII was a time when the entire country was united, not the case today. Oh well, things do go in cycles, I'm sure we will all be united in the time of The Great Monarch, hopefully before then. Pizza is gone for now, but my mom makes pizza on a weekly basis.
I think it's a boy thing. Darrell, I saw the same pattern in my under-10 boys. A strong parent tape in me used to repeat the same mantra: Finish up everything on your plate. It was a marvelous idea, but not very successful. Pat and Chris were most often limited to the frequent five: pizza, peanut butter, hotdogs, spaghetti, and corn-on-the-cob in late summer. They survived, and somehow, so did I. Ain't parenting grand? Safe in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary!
