A Letter to My Grandpa

Blake & I on Omaha Beach - Normandy.

Gramps,

I know you would have loved this blog. You always loved the way I told stories and begged me to write about you. We went to Normandy on our honeymoon in your honor and all day I could feel you smiling from heaven. Normandy was such a big part of who you became at such a young age and I know that it shaped how you lived the rest of your life thereafter.

You didn’t talk a ton about the war but you did talk about Normandy and your dream of going back to see it in person. When you finally got to do it a few years before you passed I know it meant so much to you. As we walked the beach and surrounding grounds I tried to imagine what it must have been like for you. My imagination can’t do that day justice but I tried to picture you, not even a true adult yet running up that beach to fight for the freedom I get to enjoy to this day. Mom reminded me how you said as you ran up the beach your friends fell beside you. You lost so many men you cared about that day. I’ll never understand what that was like but I stood there and thought about you. I felt sad at so many young men we lost too young, too soon. Sad at the heaviness that those of you who survived carried every day after. Deeper than the sadness and somber feeling I felt on that beach I felt pride - being your granddaughter is such a huge honor.

You lived such long, full life after that battle and I know your friends who didn’t get to do the same would be proud of the way you lived it. You spent your life in service first to the Lord and then to others. After you passed people came out of the woodwork for months telling stories of how you saved their marriages, their lives, lead them to Christ, etc. I imagine your friends would have been so proud of you.

Normandy was somber the day we went. Chilly and rainy, much like it was on D Day from what they told us. We were the only people there, a group of 7 on a silent beach. I hate that Blake never got to meet you, you would have loved each other. Sharing this place that meant so much to you with him was extra special - it felt like he got to know you just a little bit. The beach is beautiful now and I stood and cried both at the weight of what took place there and with joy that I got to see it and honor your memory. I know you would have loved that we went and I wished so much I could call you and tell you everything I saw and ask you more about it.

You’ve been gone a few years now and I’d give so much for one more game of scrabble (even if you accused me of cheating every time I won). I’d buy you a million chocolate malts to have one more day at McDonalds with you - hey, I could even drink coffee with you now that I’m old enough! I love that you’re in heaven though, with the Savior you loved and served so well. Back with Grandma (I hope they have Chinese checkers in heaven, for her). I hope your reunited with the men you lost that day. I love you Gramps.