Holly Trimper writes:
 
>One last time for what?  "Oh hooray, we blasted them Japs real good"?  Or do
>you mean one last time to reflect on the significance of WW2 in general and
>the impact of nuclear technology on the present day world?
 
Holly, by one last time I was referring to the mortality of WWII veterans. I
would like to think that even after 50 years we still have a special place
in our hearts and in our minds for these men and women. On a very personal
level, as an American, I would expect the Smithsonian to honor the memory of
people and deeds that were in the line of duty or above and beyond the call
when it came to winning the Pacific and European Theatres of WWII.
 
One last comment. As a baby boomer, I remember going to parades as a kid in
the early 50's when there were still Civil War and Spanish American War and
Great War veterans' groups represented along side WWII and Korean War units.
Nowadays, we have few parades and in not so many years, possibly, there will
be not so many veterans.  While every right thinking human being should
celebrate the day when wars are no longer necessary, something of the
nation's collective spirit wanes when the parades, and the pride for our
veterans disappear. I would like to work on building up this nation's
collective spirit and pride.  I don't think the Enola Gay Exhibition is a
step in that direction and I believe it should be.