Echoes of the Past: How World War II Still Resonates in Our Lives

Quick answer: Why does World War II still matter today, according to John Fenzel?

John argues WWII changed borders, cultures, and how Americans see themselves, and its stories still shape family identity and values. With about 119,000 WWII veterans remaining and 131 passing each day as of his writing, he asks who will tell their stories, and points to The World War II Foundation's preservation work.

When the guns fell silent in 1945, John writes, it was the start of a new era. The war changed borders, people, cultures, and how we think about ourselves, and nearly eight decades later it still doesn't feel entirely past. He describes the war as the start of an interconnected, global age. But the war lives most in family stories, the kind you hear from a grandfather rather than a history teacher. John grew up hearing them from World War II veterans who came by his family's car dealership. They were master storytellers and his personal heroes, and he wishes he'd asked more questions. Those stories shape values and character, he writes, and keep the past in conversation with the present. Forty years after Reagan spoke at Pointe du Hoc, the 80th anniversary of D-Day was approaching, and none of the Pointe du Hoc veterans remained. About 119,000 WWII veterans were left, passing at 131 a day. When they're gone, who will tell their stories?

Why it matters for leaders: Ask the questions now; the stories of those who served shape who we become, and they won't wait.

Q: Where did John hear WWII stories growing up?

A: From veterans who frequented his family's car dealership; he wishes he'd asked more questions.

Q: What anniversary prompted the piece?

A: The approaching 80th anniversary of D-Day, forty years after Reagan's Pointe du Hoc speech.

Read the full article on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/echoes-past-how-world-war-ii-still-resonates-our-lives-john-fenzel-1aame

By John Fenzel, founder and CEO of Heroes' Path Foundation