An interesting project is making its way across the United States in hopes of immortalizing some World War II veterans who did some pretty amazing things in the name of preserving freedom.
So far, more than 90 names have been signed on a piece of a wing panel of a B-17G Flying Fortress bomber. The hope by organizers of the effort is to collect as many signatures from members of the 384th Bomb Group as possible before the men, literally, die off.
As detailed in The Spectrum & Daily News in Tuesday's editions, approximately 4,000 veterans were part of the group from 1943 to 1945. Organizers of the effort to take the wing panel to these now elderly veterans have no idea how many of these men live in Southern Utah now - if any. But they are asking for help in locating them so they also can sign their names as a way of creating a lasting tribute to the brave troops who fought in the skies above enemy positions.
Anyone who knows a member of the 384th Bomb Group is asked to call coordinator Christopher Wilkinson at 310-866-8456 or send him an email at B-17WingPanel@384thBombGroup.com.
This kind of effort may seem like a small and pointless endeavor to some people. But we disagree. The number of World War II veterans is estimated to have dipped below the 1 million mark, with only about 100 expected to be former members of the 384th Bomb Group.
The passing of each one of these veterans takes with them the stories and lessons learned from an era in which the United States and democratic nations in Europe were threatened by nations determined to wage war. Labeled by some as the "Greatest Generation," these men sacrificed their personal safety to fight for their country in lands far from home.
It's true that not everyone will see the wing panel with all of the signatures. The names there may not mean much to people outside of the families of the people who used a pen to write their names there.
But each signature represents a story, a tale of a person who stood up for their country and who did their part to maintain our freedoms. A signature isn't much, but it does provide a legacy that can be honored for many, many years to come.