The Atlanta World War II Roundtable has teams of veterans who regularly visit elementary, middle and high schools in the area, to tell kids — and sometimes their teachers, too — what they ought to know, but too often don’t.
They do it because somebody must, because those who can are falling fast, and because many young people today know little or nothing even about the Vietnam War, let alone World War II.
Carl Beck, 86, of Decatur, was a soldier in the 101st Airborne Division who jumped into Normandy in the wee hours before the massive D-Day invasion of June 6, 1944. He fought until the end of the war.
So did Lew Fern, 94, of Alpharetta, who calls himself the oldest living parachutist, who served with the 82nd Airborne.
Anna Villwock, 88, also of Decatur, was a member of the Navy’s WAVEs, which stood for Women Accepted for Volunteer Service.
Lee M. Weinstein, deputy commander of the Roundtable, says teaching youngsters about the war “is important, and we’ve got to do it now, while there are still some veterans left. Every person living today has a father, uncle, grandfather or someone who served in World War II.”
Julie Yost, an eighth grade teacher at Webb Bridge Middle School in Alpharetta, says the veterans provide students “with an incredible personal glimpse into our greatest generation,” and their lectures are priceless.
Beck, who wears his jump boots and uniform, “makes history come alive” for the students and leaves them with a “small grasp” of World War II.
“He has spoken here for the last eight to 10 years,” she says. “By the time the students leave his 45-minute presentation, they have a new appreciation of the sacrifice that Mr. Beck and all other soldiers have given for the freedoms we enjoy today.”
Beck has parachuted into Normandy three times — twice after D-Day — and says he may do it again next June.
“I want the kids to know the truth,” he says. “I’m not a hero, I’m a survivor.”
Villwock tells students that she joined the WAVEs because she felt a need to contribute.
“We were not in battle, but what we did was important,” she says.
Fern, who was in heavy combat in North Africa and Europe, says he led the movement to start a speakers’ program 12 years ago, and as a result, Roundtable members have spoken to 2,000 classes and 100,000 students around the state.
“I had a teacher tell me, ‘We didn’t even get this in college,’ so it is rewarding,” he says.
Other Roundtable members entertain at nursing homes and seniors’ centers, singing 1930-40s songs, and some work at the Veterans’ Hospital in Decatur.
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