Sasquatch Chronicles Blog

May 25

Project Vigil: D-Day 2014, The saluting boy on Omaha beach

I want to thank Laurie for sending this to me. At the 6:20 mark, the video shows a dispatch from the government to the family letting the family know their son had passed away. My family still has the dispatch, I am not sure how it ended up online. This was my uncle who was a paratrooper and was shot down after jumping from the plane. I never knew him but his bravery and courage is the makeup of all of our men and women serving in the military. My father who has since passed away was the one who received the dispatch and he would be on the edge of tears talking about the day he got that letter. It was rare to see my dad show emotions but I could tell it really broke him up inside.

40 Responses to “Project Vigil: D-Day 2014, The saluting boy on Omaha beach”

  4. Debbie C

    “When he turned his gaze to the English Channel,
    he saw a “vision of the spirits” of our infantry soldiers heading for
    the shore on D-Day morning”…

    Spirits allowing the boy to see the truth, how they too respect his mission.
    I’m positive the boy did not in anyway offend those who are serving and have served our country
    by his son’s foot placement during the salute.
    The boy is 11 years old, he shown more respect for D-Day than most his age and
    older.
    This brought tears to my eyes, I love this video:)

  10. Carol Germer

    At the 6:20 mark, you’ll notice the Western Union is addressed to Melvin Germer about his son Phillip Germer being killed in action. Phillip Germer was Wes’s uncle whom I never had the opportunity to meet. I had no idea that this was online.

  15. Letty

    This little boy will be following in the footsteps of thousands and thousands who lost their lives and he is going to make a heck of soldier….

  16. David F

    I agree….Awesome Video! Sorry if this get’s long but as we celebrate Memorial Day Weekend remembering our Loved Ones who are no longer here let us also remember the Boys, Men and Women who have served and given their Lives for our Country beginning with the Shot Heard ’round the World up to the Trenches in WWI, the Day of Infamy at Pearl Harbor, the Beaches of Normandy and the Island Hopping Campaigns of the Pacific in WWII, the Korean Conflict of the 50’s, the disrespected Soldiers of Vietnam, The Victors of both Gulf Wars (and the Respect the Vietnam Veterans finally got) and the on-going War on Terror (even though we’ve squandered what we gained).

  17. Scott A

    Wes, That’s such an honorable gesture from such a young boy to stand there for so long, and it is a surprise to see that the man named in the dispatch is your uncle.

  20. Kerrin C

    Truly gorgeous. Thank you for sharing this with us. My uncle was also there that day. My father was in the South Pacific. God bless all those men (and women) who have sacrificed and given of themselves for our freedom.

  21. Mary W

    Awesome. But hearing taps makes me cry. Thank you vets and all presently serving and those carrying the weight of military PTSD and the the family who face each day with them

  24. Scott M

    I started out as an infantry paratrooper and eventually transitioned to aviation as a pilot. I served in Somalia, Haitai, Bosnia, Kosovo and Iraq.. I’ve lost plenty of brothers and had my share of close calls. I’ve alway thought myself a “hard” guy but this broke me. Thanks for posting.

  27. Derek G

    I’m a Canadian but a gesture like this young man’s should be saluted and make anyone proud to be from a free nation. It is such a contrast to what we see in the media whenever there is a terrorist attack, especially on 9/11, when young boys from Muslim countries were holding weapons and cheering around burning American flags. That boy represents the united, hard working, heroic, courageous and protective America that many countries for some reason have forgotten to respect, appreciate and admire. “It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness”. God Bless to all Americans who continue to light a candle like this young man!

  28. Papa - Yeti

    My deepest heartfelt appreciation and thank you to Phillip Germer and to all of his family. Carol. didn’t Wes, and or Woody serve in the United States Army? Also thank you to all the men and woman serving in the U.S. military to this day, and many blessings to their wives, children, mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, sons and daughters, great comfort, financial, and spiritual blessings upon them all.

  29. Jay Carlsen

    You Bet ! Hats off to this Young Man ! I try to Thank All vets for their Service , After I listened to my Mother & walked into the Recruiters station with a Note from my Doctor. Saying Yeah Jay Carlsen , who has a Basilar Skull Fracture , Broken Neck , 9 Broken Ribs , Broken left Knee & broke the first digit on his Left foot ( Big Toe ) . But He’s Good – Fully Functional – He can Do It . That prick Recruiter laughed in my Face & told me to quit wasting his Time ….
    What can ya do ? Thank God for the Oil Field ! Was my escape from this small Town in Northern Michigan.
    While we were working down in Southern Kentucky we met an old Man. A Land Owner who walked out to talk to us. After telling him what we were doing ( Seismic Work ) he started to tell us ( 4 ) of how He was drafted to go to Europe in WW2. ( My Grandfather fought in North Africa & Italy he was there when the Italians killed Musolini.) I was listening to this Man , My Grandfather never spoke of it & no one asked him to . So When I met someone willing to even account they were there , I was all ears !
    He told us He made a Promise to God , that if he was allowed to come home again he would never again Leave his Holler . In the southeastern part of Kentucky . And that is where we found him! there was a little general store not far from his house , which we had just been to. We ate our lunch ( Sardines & Twinkies . Sardines I could fit in my Back Pocket & no one else cared for them. I LOVE EM !) But He lived the rest of his Life there , Never having to leave for anything he needed . It was all right there . I Never caught that mans Name , But I will Remember him Forever.

  30. Reid D

    That was beautiful, as I’m wiping away the tears! That young man impressed me very much! God Bless those who have served and paid the ultimate price!

  31. Kim L

    Thank you, needed a good cry. How you conduct yourself and treat others is how you show your respect and thankfulness for the sacrifices made on your behalf, that includes all of us veterans also. Rather than thank me for my service, be a good honest person, be kind to those less fortunate, and do your best to live a happy life. Semper Fi

  33. Linda W

    A true young American remembering that our freedom comes at a high price. Thanks for sharing his video and his courage in not wavering to show his respect for this nations fallen. Great respect to all the families affected. I praise God my son returned from Iraq.

  34. Dave T

    A young man with such spirit and pride can inspire that there’s still hope for our country. My hat’s off to that little guy. Special kid.

  35. Nancy A

    Thank you for posting Wes. My dad flew paratroopers in on D Day. He took all of us kids there for the 50th anniversary. Standing on that beach looking up at those cliffs is so sobering. Perhaps this young boy is a reincarnation of one of those souls who died that day. What a thoughtful amd loving father this boy has . I wold like to know about them. God bless the soul of your uncle Wes and all who died there. Once you stand on that sand a feeling goes through you that you never forget.

  37. Theodore G

    I want to thank you for sharing this wonderful video and thanks to the young man and his respect of those who have stood before us in history and have given their lives so that we may have freedom. And thank you from my father who served in WW II. He seldom spoke to us of the great war, but when he did his stories would always end with tears in his eyes, him talking about all the friends he had lost and that he always felt torn betwen gratefulness that he survived the war and got to live to a ripe old age of 92 and guilt for having lived when so many had died. I miss him dearly.

Leave a Reply