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Growing up, I often heard my grandfather talk about how tough it was for him to pick up English as a kid in that tiny one-room schoolhouse. He wasn't the only one—there were plenty of other immigrant kids there, and they all picked up bits of each other's languages while playing outside during recess. His parents, like so many others, had arrived in America aboard "the boat," and by the time he was a teenager, they still hadn't mastered much English.
Despite this, my grandfather's talent for baseball caught the eye of scouts early on. There was even talk of him being drafted into professional leagues, but his Slovak-speaking father put an end to that quickly. Dad wasn’t about to let anyone take his boy away, especially not to play ball. A few years later, though, fate intervened again when my grandfather was drafted into World War II at age 21. It was a turning point in his life—one that would shape everything to come.
He returned home with tales from the frontlines, chronicling moments of bravery and sacrifice. But what struck me most about him wasn’t just the stories he told—it was the way he carried himself. Even after returning from war, he retained this incredible tenderness toward others and an unwavering gratitude for this nation he served so bravely.
Though he passed away long ago, his voice remains alive in his autobiography. In it, he writes about the freezing winters of the Battle of the Bulge: *"Our general said the Nazis wouldn’t give up. And boy, was he right. It was bitterly cold out there, but we weren’t exactly freezing. We were sweating—more out of fear than anything else. Fear and being far away from home."*
To those who laid down their lives so we could live freely in this beautiful country, I offer my deepest thanks. You are never forgotten.
Today, as we celebrate Memorial Day, I hope you all find some time to reflect on what freedom truly means—and perhaps share a moment of silence for those who made it possible.
Wishing you all peace, joy, and blessings today and always.
[Your Name]
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**P.S.** I’ve included a quick snapshot below of my grandfather during his service days. Though the image quality isn’t great, his smile says it all.
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