“The Peace Prize judges won’t see it this way, but America has gone to Europe twice in the past century to fight for peace. This is an old concept, and has to do with killing killers so they can’t kill anymore. It cost America a lot to do this, and we kept no territory, as they say, beyond the graves where our soldiers lie. America then taxed itself and gave its wealth not only to its allies but to its former adversaries, to help them rebuild. We didn’t actually have to do this. We did it to make the world better. We did it to foster peace. (They should give us a prize.)” —columnist Peggy Noonan

I can add a little bit to Peggy Noonan’s quote.  We did keep some territory beyond the graves although this is no land made of dirt, dust, rock and stone.  This path is well-trod and familiar surroundings for those who survived the perils of the first two world wars in the depths of their minds and souls : a soldier’s memories of brothers-in-arms gone in an instant and loved ones back home who have faded letters or some medals to hold in place of a father, mother, son, daughter, husband, wife, brother, sister, or friend.

My bet is America wouldn’t even demand a Nobel Peace Prize  no matter how warranted (certainly now it has been denigrated in awarding one to President Obama, for what I have no clue).  Just some peace and some genuine thanks from the peoples liberated and recognition from us, the offspring of the Greatest Generation that our freedoms (or what are left of them) were paid in blood, tears, toil, and strife by heroes and ordinary men and women to help those who needed help the most.

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