This is a great thread. Tell your father this story:
Me and 2 of my buddies went to the Normandy beaches and cemetary on Memorial Day 2007. (We worked for Army V Corps in Heidelberg and took a weekend trip). A tour bus group of very senior citizens from Belgium discovered that we were Americans (by our accents of course). They surrounded us and mobbed us with thanks, hugs, kisses, tears---very emotional moment for them and us. They knew that we were too young to have been in that campaign but nonetheless they were thanking all of America through us. There was a light rain and I'd say we all stood there for 2 hours.
It is an incredibly solemn place, I walked from headstone to headstone looking at the names, and felt guilty when I left because I could not visit every one of them. Tell your father that.