Seems like we've had several threads lately regarding Nawlins (New Orleans for you non-Southerners). Aside from the smell of urine in the streets, strippers waving from doorways, and excellent cajun food, my best memories of NOLA are of the National D-Day Museum. Have any of you visited it? If not, put it on your bucket list.
I visited it about two weeks before the Big Hurricane. I happened to be wearing an Army Ranger shirt the day I was there, and an elderly volunteer, named Patrick Duffy, gave my wife and I a four hour personal tour. Wow. What a guy.
Mr. Duffy was a survivor of D-Day. He showed me a photo on the wall of him and his squad hoisting steins of beer at a Mom & Pop owned pub in Normandy. The photo had been taken after they won the beach and made their way inland.
As he was reliving the story, he reached into his wallet and pulled out a photo of a bunch of white haired gentlemen lifting their glasses of ale outside the same pub, along with a young couple. He said that the guys in his squad who were still alive visited Normandy a few years ago. They went to that same pub, and found that the grandchildren of the original owners had taken over the pub.
Here's to the brave men and women who selflessly took that beach so many years ago!
I hope Mr. Duffy survived the hurricane. Go visit the museum if you're in NOLA. You won't be disappointed.
I visited it about two weeks before the Big Hurricane. I happened to be wearing an Army Ranger shirt the day I was there, and an elderly volunteer, named Patrick Duffy, gave my wife and I a four hour personal tour. Wow. What a guy.
Mr. Duffy was a survivor of D-Day. He showed me a photo on the wall of him and his squad hoisting steins of beer at a Mom & Pop owned pub in Normandy. The photo had been taken after they won the beach and made their way inland.
As he was reliving the story, he reached into his wallet and pulled out a photo of a bunch of white haired gentlemen lifting their glasses of ale outside the same pub, along with a young couple. He said that the guys in his squad who were still alive visited Normandy a few years ago. They went to that same pub, and found that the grandchildren of the original owners had taken over the pub.
Here's to the brave men and women who selflessly took that beach so many years ago!
I hope Mr. Duffy survived the hurricane. Go visit the museum if you're in NOLA. You won't be disappointed.
