In 1958, on the fortieth anniversary of November 11, 1918, I was invited to join my grandfather, father, and brother for lunch at Fraunces Tavern, a few blocks from my grandfather's office at 40 Wall Street. I was six years old. How I wish I could remember what was said at that lunch. I do remember my father leaning forward to ask his father a question and my grandfather recoiling. Forty years after the Argonne-Meuse Offensive, his memories of the horrors of the battlefield were still too painful to share. My grandfather's hearing was permanently damaged by the cannon fire.
After lunch, we went upstairs to see where General Washington said farewell to his officers and my passion for history was ignited.
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