September 14, 2024

By Dan W. Hall

On one of my visits to Prague, Czechoslovakia, I learned that General Patton’s forces had reached Prague prior to the Russians.

Also, the Nazi Germans, even knowing they had been defeated by Patton, just prior to withdrawal from Prague, German tanks opened fire damaging historic buildings in the downtown square (some dating back to 1,000 AD) as an act of defiance and hatred.

Later, at the post WW II Yalta conference, Russia was given control of Czechoslovakia. Czechs then suffered needlessly under communist rule for generations until the fall of the Soviet Union.

A close friend of mine (after reading my opinion article in the September 7, 2024, Lee’s Summit Tribune) wrote the following I felt worth shearing with you readers:

“Dan, I was born in 1945—think you in 1944, and growing up I never quite realized how much we were influenced by the war (WW II) through our parents, neighbors and grandparents. The hardships of rationing, no rubber for tires etc. they lived through made us more frugal as we grew up. We believed America was special and good at the core. Plus, the patriotism influence was all around – not what we are giving our young people today—the pledge of allegiance, national anthem and made in America. No one would dare buy a car made in Japan or Germany. It is natural that these strong feelings diminish over time but I am worried that we have lost most of our pride in America, being an American and the sense that America is good because its citizens are good because we were blessed by the almighty.”

My friend wished to remain anonymous but his words ring true. Please feel free to share them with your younger friends.