Recently, we just finished watching Band of Brothers the popular HBO mini-series produced by Tom Hanks. This series chronicles the journey of the 101st Airborne Division in the US Army during World War Two. Throughout the series, viewers are able to get to know each member of the AirBorne’s E-Company (Easy Company) and the realities war brought. From the Beaches of Normandy to the forests of Bastogne, the stark circumstances and brutalities of war is made clear.
This series is incredibly profound, and I would highly recommend it!
I could go on about many different parts of this series, however, I was struck by the final episode and the narration of the final seven minutes.
The scene opens where the soldiers are playing baseball in a field in Austria and the Major is narrating over what each soldier went on to do in his life. For one of the soldiers, George Luz, it was said,
“As a testament to his character, sixteen-hundred people attended his funeral.”
-Band of Brothers
A testament to his character.
How wonderful that he had such an impact on so many in his lifetime that over one thousand people would attend his funeral.
This really struck me and has made me ask some tough questions;
What kind of person do you want to be? What kind of person will people remember you as?
I’m not trying to make this sound morbid. But right now, when you look at your life, what would you want people to remember you as?
In some ways, after watching the show (this was our fifth time watching this series, it’s that good), I wish I could have known George Luz. Seen what he did in life.
Honor, kindness, generosity, love, empathy.
I hope that I can embody these qualities as I live my life. Maybe not to have that many people who want to say goodbye, but just to know that I’ve made a positive impact on others’ lives.
Forgetting what others think you should be, at the end of the day, who do you want to be?
-Caitlin
Pete says
I think it is more ‘who will you be remembered as’, because who we want to be means we are not yet satisfied with who we are.
Caitlin says
That’s a great way of looking at it! Thanks for stopping by!