David Boudreaux

Old School

November 11, 2009 at 12:54 pm (Uncategorized)

I’ll keep this one short…. I have been sitting at home today (the wife is in the last few weeks/days??? of pregnancy). While I have been at home… I have watched some tributes to the veterans. Got me thinking a lot about my family.  So let me start here…. Back when I was like 8-9yrs old  there was a hurricane on the way (if your from Louisiana that means -BOARD UP!!!). Well I was with my dad helping my grandpa board up his house. I mean I was 8-9… I couldn’t do much, but at the end my grandpa brought something out… It was a gun. It was old,rusted, and weathered. He had the original leather holster and all. It all looked so worn and old, but I had know idea what it was. Well my grandpa, gave it to me. He told me he had picked it up off of a German soldier that had been captured/surrendered in France.

Imagine as a little boy… I had no appreciation for the story, just the gun!!! Years later, as I worked at the lumber yard… which the same grandpa had owned… he told me the story again.(If you know my grandpa… he also “typed” it on a notecard-haha) This time when he told me the story it meant something a little different. Now I was old enough to realize what he was telling me. He had shared a piece of history with me! Not only that, but the bravery of that generation. I found out through the years… that he barely missed D-Day. Absolutely incredible. I also, found out that my great uncle-my grandpa Boudreaux’s brother was a fighter pilot. Long story short- He flew tons of dangerous missions!!! WOW!!!

I know this is more of a ramble, but my heart is filled with emotion as I think about this. I am not generally a cheer-ra-ra guy, but I have to give props to my grandpa and his generation. I only hope that our generation can be as courageous and brave, whether in the military or not. I do know some that are currently in the military… to you I say thank you!

Lastly, to the generation of my grandparents I say thank you! If you ever have a chance to sit and talk with someone from the WWII generation… you will be moved to courage and the remembrance of a time, where freedom actually meant something and was worth fighting for.

THANKS TO PAW PAW BOUDREAUX

P.s. I still have that gun all polished and clean (now). I rarely shoot it, but I treasure it! Not as a weapon, but a piece of history and a reminder!