As America celebrated Independence Day, Bill Macias’ family and friends celebrated him and the many contributions he made to the country he nearly died defending and loved so dearly. Watch as five generations of his family gather to hear him describe his incredible World War II experiences and why he spent his life trying to make things better than he found them.
In Honor of His Country and His Life
InRelated Stories 5 of 5
Related Stories 5 of 5

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The prisoners at Lowell Correctional Institute who train the dogs and the veterans who receive them offer their heartfelt thoughts about the difference it is making.

98-Year-Old WWII Veteran Irving Locker : Encouraging Others Not To Take Life For Granted
Veterans
Irving Locker survived five major battles in WWII including Battle of the Bulge and D-Day. And, at 18, he became one of the youngest staff sergeants in all of the Army.

Veteran’s Day
Veterans
Veterans Day was originally celebrated as Armistice Day, marking the end of World War I on the “11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month” in 1918. For that reason, it’s always celebrated on November 11th — regardless of which day of the week it falls on.

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Veterans
Operation Gratitude Touches the Lives of Millions of Service Members, First Responders, Veterans & Volunteers

WWII Vet’s Final Mission: Preserving Women’s History
Veterans
Betty Wall was one of a handful of female pilots in World War II. After the war, she thought that part of her life was over. But then she realized she owed it to her friends — and herself — to make sure we never forgot about their contributions.