I was surprised to discover how little I knew about World War II when I recently spent three years researching my own father’s story for a book project. My family was aware my father, Lieutenant John Sisson, went ashore on D-Day morning in 1944 with the 22nd Infantry Regiment and earned two Purple Hearts as he fought his way across Europe. Other than this basic information, we only had vague stories of his experiences.

As I studied my father’s personal letters and papers augmented by regimental histories, military action reports and the personal accounts of his peers, I realized I had never truly understood the challenge his generation faced during those war years. Worse than that, I had taken for granted the liberties they secured for me.

Looking through the eyes of a man I knew so well changed my entire attitude toward service to country and my own definition of bravery. His story, in turn, became one with the story of his generation.

May 8 was the 80th anniversary of V-E Day, which celebrates the Allies’ World War II victory in Europe. As a nation and citizens of the world, we would be wise to consider the challenge posed by Navy Lt. Cmdr. Katherine Miiyaaman at the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landing at Normandy, France, just 11 months ago:

“They stood the watch 80 years ago … so that we can sleep soundly in safety … American World War II veterans, you stand relieved. We have the watch.”

Germany’s final surrender on May 8, 1945, marked the end of the Third Reich, which had been created by Adolf Hitler 12 years earlier with the goal of world domination. An estimated 50 million to 75 million people perished during World War II, the greatest loss of life due to a war in human history. Almost every country in the world was impacted before the horrific conflict finally ended with the Japanese surrender on Sept. 2, 1945.

That victory required the fortitude, faith, and sacrifice of an entire generation of young men and women to save a world almost consumed by ambition, nationalism, prejudice and chaos. Who were they? Although there are legions of movies and books on the war, what do we really know about the millions of individuals called to service in our own country and abroad?

Each one, in their own way, kept freedom and hope alive for those of us living today.

Too often, they never shared their experiences with even their own families. And now, they are almost gone. Will we forget what they endured? Do we as a nation understand the responsibilities of assuming “the watch?” Almost every day a news headline makes me wonder.

In recognition of the anniversaries of V-E Day in May and the subsequent end of World War II in September, I encourage every American to reconsider the men and women in their own family who lived through those war years. Take the time to learn more about their untold stories. As we look toward 2026 and the 250th anniversary of our nation’s birth, we need our family members who lived through those catastrophic times to help unite us.

The World War II generation’s watch is over, ours has only just begun.

We cannot afford to fail them. Let’s honor their memory and strive to unite under the collective banner of courage and decency as if the nightmare of a world at war just occurred and May 8 and September 2, 1945, were yesterday.

“They stood the watch 80 years ago… so that we can sleep soundly in safety… American World War II veterans, you stand relieved. We have the watch.”

Karen Sisson Marshall of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, is the author of “Finding My Father’s Footsteps: A Journey Within the Battlefields of WWII.”