"I remember those poignant moments during WWII when my parents took me to the depots to see my uncles and cousins board the train on their way to the war. We never knew if they would come back," wrote a schoolmate remembering the Rio Grande Depot.
Many of us growing up during WWII shared the same tears and fears over the loss of our loved ones as we saw them off to war. The day after President Roosevelt an- nounced that Pearl Harbor had been attacked and declared war, Utah men rushed to the post office to sign up for the armed services.
All Americans shared in the sacrifices and were willing to do anything asked to serve our country. As children, many of us were fearful as we saw adults rushing to war, and others seeing what they could do to help the war effort.
My big sister and her girl friends signed up to work at the Remington War Plant located on Redwood Road and 21st South, where they packaged arms and munitions. They were "Rosie the Riveter" now enshrined in old posters. We also saw the posters of "Uncle Sam Wants You," with those scary eyes that kept following you around.
Our president called upon the nation to sacrifice and to support the war effort. And we did. Though he made us aware the danger we would be facing, at the same time, he made us believe in our selves. He gave us hope. He asked us to save and be frugal. The nation embarked in a war bond and stamp-buying program that helped finance the war.
A rationing of food was started that required food stamps to purchase items such as coffee, sugar, meat, flour and butter among others. Gas was also rationed and lettered stickers were given to designate who, and on what days, one could get gas. There were no new tires, only re-treaded ones, and the old were collected for recycling. Auto plants were retooled to build war equipment. They stopped making nylon silk stockings because the silk was used to make parachutes. Women then wore net stockings or painted their legs to appear like they had nylons on.
The war helped unite the American people as never before, and our president kept us informed through radio. Daily newspapers went fast and many of us kids sold them after school up and down Main Street. The images of war were only seen once a week on black and white news briefs at the movie houses.
Families were proud to hang a small banner in the window with a blue star for each family member in the armed service. And a gold star indicated the loss of a family member. Everyone in the neighborhood, or from one's church or club, mourned the loss of a soldier. Everyone was there to support the surviving family members.
That was then.
Today, we have a war that seems to lack the involvement of the citizens, calling for no effort or sacrifices as we were asked to make in WWII. Rather than asking for sacrifices, we are told to shop; and the only thing that appears to be of concern to some people is the price of gas.
Now the only ones making a sacrifice are the families who, as in all wars, have seen a loved one off to war — wondering if they will come back.
Utah native John Florez has founded several Hispanic civil rights organizations, served on the staff of Sen. Orrin Hatch and on more than 45 state, local and volunteer boards. He also has been deputy assistant secretary of labor. E-mail: jdflorez@comcast.net