A World War II veteran in the twilight of his life stands once again on the soil where he fought the Nazis or the Imperial Japanese when he was young man. He remembers those long-gone days of terror and valor and thinks of friends who died before his eyes. In a voice tinged with age and emotion, he talks about what he saw and heard and felt. Why would he want to revisit the places where he saw hell erupt around him?

For many veterans, the experience brings a sense of closure to memories that often have been locked away like an old uniform for decades. They find healing in places where once they witnessed the worst and the best humanity has to offer. Sadly, many old vets who would like to have this closure cannot afford to travel back to Normandy or Iwo Jima or elsewhere.

It’s very emotional to see little kids running up to a vet with a bubblegum wrapper and a pen, asking for his autograph.

The Greatest Generations Foundation (TGGF) was established to make it possible for these honored warriors to take the odyssey back to their old battlegrounds, to see the results of what they and their companions sacrificed for, and often to receive the grateful thanks of people who were born long after those sacrifices were made. Its mission has also expanded to include educational activities such as "Take Living History Back to School Day," a center for international studies, scholarships and more.

Recently, HistoryNet interviewed the organization’s founder, Australian-born Timothy Davis, as he was preparing to depart for Belgium with a group of veterans and college students.

HistoryNet.com: The name of this organization is unusual. Why call it the Greatest Generations – plural rather than singular?

Timothy Davis: Being from Melbourne, Australia, you learn about the major conflicts in the 20th century through our educational system. I have always been inspired at the four major wars of the 20th century in which Australia and the US were involved. Australia has always been America’s strongest ally in these wars and continues to be today. Growing up, I heard Australian veterans telling their stories. In Australia, when we heard that Tom Brokaw expression, "the Greatest Generation," we said, no, all those servicemen who fought in wars throughout the 20th century were apart of the greatest generation. Just like the generations of men and women that are serving in today’s military. So, I had that in back of my mind when I came to America.

When we were forming the foundation, we brought in veterans from WWII, Korea and Vietnam wars to discuss this topic this in a round-table session, and the vets agreed: anyone who puts on a uniform to defend this great country are a part of the "greatest generation."

HN: Tell us a bit about how this foundation got started back in 2004.

TD: I went to Europe for the 60th anniversary of D-Day, and I expected to see thousands of American World War II vets, maybe tens of thousands. Less than 400 Americans made the journey back to Normandy. I was flabbergasted. When I got home to Denver, I began to research World War II veterans.

"I asked them three questions: Would they go back if they could; would they like to go with family members or other veterans; and could they afford the trip?"

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