Dear Folks, This evening as I was in the process of putting my WWII stories in order, I came across one I wrote in 2001. Considering that we'll be celebrating Memorial Day tomorrow, I thought it fitting that I repost the story. vee We Regret to Inform You May 27, 2001 This past Monday evening, May 21, our Town of Porter Historical Society had its meeting in Ransomville rather than our usual meeting place in Youngstown. Before the meeting we were all invited to see the latest exhibit that had been put into place in the Ransomville museum located in the old post office that's been relocated behind the Ransomville library. Millie Hillman and Peggy Shearer had put together a marvelous Memorial Day display of WWI and WWII uniforms and insignias and certificates and documents and photographs that identified our local veterans who had served in the wars. There was one person in the museum who walked along with me as we looked around at the display that Millie and Peggy had set up. It was Millie's son Scott Hillman (he's our Town Highway Superintendent). Scott's a generation younger than I but we know each other and we looked over the display together. I explained to him the meaning of several of the insignias on the Navy uniform jumpers, we talked about them and then walked over to where we saw a single piece of paper that was also on display. I had never actually seen such an original document before with my own eyes but I immediately recognized what it was. It was a Western Union Telegram and the first words that I read were "We regret to inform you." OH, NO! I knew what words came next and I couldn't even bear to read the rest of them. It was the telegram that every family dreaded to receive who had a close family member who was serving in the war. It was a telegram informing the family that their son had been killed in action. OH, NO! Tears filled my eyes and I explained to Scott the horrible meaning of those words. He understood and while I was trying gather my composure again, he let me know that he felt strongly that unless the younger generation(s) fully understand and appreciate what sacrifices were made by not only those who fought and died in defense of our country but what their families went through as a consequence, they will never really understand what our country's history is all about.