Dear Friends,
Photos and videos when merged together in a powerful story can inspire, enlighten, uplift, entertain and bring tears to your eyes. I have uploaded my tribute to my mom and dad and also my dad’s brother Jerry Zuranski.
This video is a celebration of the lives of my mom and dad who were both in the Air Force During World War II. My mom was a flight nurse and my dad was a bombardier in the “B-26 Widow Maker bombers,” so-called because close to 75% of the men who flew in this unforgiving stubby winged aircraft with monstrous engines were killed by the anti-aircraft fire, enemy fighters, equipment failure and miserable, often times impossible weather conditions.
My dad even survived the crash of his bomber in France on the way back from a mission. He was found 500 yards from the crash site. When the plane hit, the glass dome in the nose of the airplane disintegrated upon impact.
My dad became an unwilling, unidentified flying object. Even now I believe he was caught by angels who minimized his injuries. It was a miracle he survived.
Both of my mom and dad received military honors. The flag on my dad’s casket is something I will cherish as long as I live and remember the courage of my parents’ generation and their service to this country.
Video Tribute To My Mom and Dad
I had the privilege of creating a video celebration of their lives that I have posted on youtube.com for your enjoyment and inspiration. Sometimes you don’t realize how proud you are of family members and friends and how much you loved them until after they are gone.
My Uncle Jerry, my dad’s brother, was a Bronze Star Medal winner with Clusters in World War II during the Battle of the bulge in Europe. Our troops were horribly outnumbered and the fighting was brutal. They were running low on food, bullets and medical supplies because the supply lines had been ruptured by the Germans. They were surrounded in an almost hopeless situation.
My uncle had to take over command after all the officers above him were killed or wounded. At his funeral, some of the men who served with him told me how Uncle Jerry saved the lives of many men in an impossible situation. Out of 600 men only about 150 survived.
Video Tribute To My Uncle Jerry Zuranski, Bronze Star Medal Winner with Clusters
Please let me know what you think of my video tributes to the heroes in my family of whom I am very proud and miss a lot.
take care,
ralph