Son of a president, of a nation
It was 1918... There was a sensation around the world. Quentin Roosevelt, the youngest son of former President Theodore Roosevelt, had just joined the US Air Force. He was just a young man with a passion for flying, and his talent was disciplined through dedication. He claimed to have killed his first official aerial enemy in combat at the age of just 20. Imagine how proud his parents must have been that their son was among those serving America, but still, joy in war is fleeting. Then, just four days later, Quentin was in the air and up against German planes. In a heartbreaking twist of fate, his plane was shot down, and his life was tragically cut short. https://rb.gy/jrz8ey For the Roosevelt family, the news was a crushing blow, a raw and deep loss that words can hardly capture. But this is where the story takes an unexpected turn. When German forces realized they had shot down the son of a former US president, they made an extraordinary decision. More than 1,000 German soldiers gave Quentin a state military funeral. They placed a wooden cross made from parts of his ship on his grave. It echoes the soldier-to-soldier respect and humanity that soldiers share in the bond between them, no matter which side they fight for. The Roosevelts' home country mourned with them. The country mourned the death of this young man.https://rb.gy/j13wgs A Pennsylvania town was renamed "Quentin" in his memory because of the man's short but eventful life. The story of Quentin Roosevelt is not simply that of a brave young pilot; it is a sobering example of the cost of war to humanity and the lasting image of those who serve.
0 Comments