My Project:

When working on this project my most important source in this project would have to be the IDPF files that we were given on our soldiers. It gave very valuable information that even if it was unable to be used directly in this project contributed directly to research that was able to be used and led me to very useful information.

Working on this project for the past few months has brought me an understanding of WWII that often isn't brought up. We are taught that a bunch of people died fighting for our country and that we should honor and celebrate them.  What we are not taught was how much fight it took to survive up to the point that they did. Reynolds Bello was able to serve and make it through D-Day but died a week later. It wasn't just the big battles and attacks that killed. It was more than a one person sacrifice. Those who died had family members waiting for them to come home and instead of deciding where to go out to dinner to celebrate their loved ones return too many had to decide a final burial site. If it weren't for the sacrifices of these men and women, the sacrifices of their families, and their love for their country, we would not be looking at the life of freedom we have today and that is not recognized enough. Each soldier, each nurse, each sailor, contributed everything they had to America's freedom and even lacking one of them could have changed the world for the worse. This is why projects like this exist, to recognize each and everyone of them because their dedication protected our lives today.

This project for me doesn't necessarily redefine gratitude but instead shows why we should all need to show our gratitude to those who served. They gave up on what was important to them, the lives they had in America to go and protect the way of life of others. They gave each and everyone of us our lives we know today with out even knowing us. 

My letter to 1SG Bello:

Dear 1SG, Bello,

I first want to thank you for your service to our country! As a military brat I know the sacrifices that you and your family made and it is one of the hardest yet most important contributions this Nation has to offer. You gave up your entire life to protects ours and I will never be able to describe how grateful I am for that. I want you to know that America appreciates you! Today it has been 78 years, 11 months, and 13 days, since you have died but the impact you have made on the lives of Americans since then has never stopped.  What was the Parachute Infantry like? It sounds amazing but I'm sure it was a little nerve wracking in those tiny planes. How do you feel now that the Army Air Core is now the Airforce? What was Europe like? Did you still have to move around like the military does today? I hope you know that you are remembered and that people are proud of you! I hope you have family alive today who honor what you did for their lives! Because even the strangers you didn't even know thank you for your service! I thank you for your service! You did your job! You won! America won!

- Alyssa