I’m not sure why other people thank veterans, but I know why I do. I thank them for their service of course, but when I remember my old co-worker’s story about the loss of his buddy, and when I see things like this video, I get a glimpse of some of the weighty memories that so many soldiers carry with them for the rest of their lives.

The guys who have lived through things like this are often slow to open up. I’m thankful to the ones who eventually do, and share their experiences like this.

A big “thank you” to the production team that brought Mr. Robertson’s story to life. You have done us a great service.

I’m not sure why other people thank veterans, but I know why I do. I thank them for their service of course, but when I remember my old co-worker’s story about the loss of his buddy, and when I see things like this video, I get a glimpse of some of the weighty memories that so many soldiers carry with them for the rest of their lives.

The guys who have lived through things like this are often slow to open up. I’m thankful to the ones who eventually do, and share their experiences like this.

A big “thank you” to the production team that brought Mr. Robertson’s story to life. You have done us a great service.

It is exactly this kind of deeply moving, personal story that gives shape and meaning to acts of war. Adding a human element helps counteract the instinct to make blanket statements about good and evil, replacing them with careful consideration and understanding. Joseph Robertson bravely did what he had to do and his story, rendered in this way, gives the audience an important glimpse into the difficulties faced by men and women on the ground.

Thank you for this work.

It is exactly this kind of deeply moving, personal story that gives shape and meaning to acts of war. Adding a human element helps counteract the instinct to make blanket statements about good and evil, replacing them with careful consideration and understanding. Joseph Robertson bravely did what he had to do and his story, rendered in this way, gives the audience an important glimpse into the difficulties faced by men and women on the ground.

Thank you for this work.

God bless our troops and those that have stood up and did what was necessary even if it wasn’t pleasant…God bless our troops that have stood on the side of right even though those around us sometimes have no idea what right actually is and want to make those involved in atrocities victims.

Here’s an idea for next year’s veterans day salute…Find one of the pilots that bombed Pearl Harbor…they were no better than us, no worse than us…and they were veterans…or better yet…do our servicemen and women proud by highlighting their accomplishments of good triumphing over evil plain and simple.

God bless our troops and those that have stood up and did what was necessary even if it wasn’t pleasant…God bless our troops that have stood on the side of right even though those around us sometimes have no idea what right actually is and want to make those involved in atrocities victims.

Here’s an idea for next year’s veterans day salute…Find one of the pilots that bombed Pearl Harbor…they were no better than us, no worse than us…and they were veterans…or better yet…do our servicemen and women proud by highlighting their accomplishments of good triumphing over evil plain and simple.

When we set out to make the film, the idea of translating such a raw and personal story was daunting. Joseph Robertson served a long and distinguished military career of which all Americans can be proud. Like many other veterans, he proves to us the extraordinary strength of his character by showing compassion for his enemy. For the young German soldier, life ended that day in the midst of a mad, chaotic war whipped up by a cruelly charismatic dictator. The German people were no better or worse than us, instead, they were led by evil men who cynically turned patriotism into genocide. I am grateful to have had the chance to share Robertson’s account and hope it serves as a reminder that each death in every war is a unique and sacred event of profound tragedy.

We honor our servicemen and women best by remembering the burdens they carry as well as their heroism.

When we set out to make the film, the idea of translating such a raw and personal story was daunting. Joseph Robertson served a long and distinguished military career of which all Americans can be proud. Like many other veterans, he proves to us the extraordinary strength of his character by showing compassion for his enemy. For the young German soldier, life ended that day in the midst of a mad, chaotic war whipped up by a cruelly charismatic dictator. The German people were no better or worse than us, instead, they were led by evil men who cynically turned patriotism into genocide. I am grateful to have had the chance to share Robertson’s account and hope it serves as a reminder that each death in every war is a unique and sacred event of profound tragedy.

We honor our servicemen and women best by remembering the burdens they carry as well as their heroism.