Eighty-two years later, war is a godawful curse that humans are still inflicting on each other. This 17-year-old boy was scared for life by what he saw that day. Memorializing and remembering that day is not about national pride or which side was right and which side was wrong. It’s holding fast to the need for us to do better with one another so that we never have to take up weapons of death against each other. Life is hard enough without the drum-beat of tribalism. If we can accomplish so much in the face of some enormous threat, imagine what we could do together for the good of everyone willing to contribute. Yes, there are legitimate threats that should not be ignored, but let’s minimize their relevance by being better ourselves in our ability to fix real problems and help as many along the way. There are enough challenges in the natural world that we do not need to stir things up amongst each other. We can do better. Thank you Frank for your service and all veterans who answered the call. We still have a long way to go so that 17-year-old boys aren’t forced to confront death from bombs and the sacrifices of other young men and women. 

Sources: Frank Curre: A WWII veterán recalls the day Pearl Harbor was attacked by Story Corps/Upworthy, https://storycorps.org/animation/frank-curre/