It has been 66 years since the U.S. Pacific Fleet was attacked at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, marking the entrance of the United States into World War II - a war that ultimately claimed more than 64 million lives.

If any of your relatives are still alive to tell their stories of WWII, be sure to talk to them now before it is too late. It was a long, painful time in world history and each person who lived through it has a very different story to tell. My grandfathers, both deceased, fought in WWII, as did my father-in-law (who is thankfully still happy to share his stories). One of my grandmothers told me her stories of living through WWII as a teenager in France, while the other has stories to tell about the rationing and war efforts in the United States. My mother-in-law has terrible stories to tell of living through the war in Germany. Quite a lot of different perspectives on a war, that surprisingly aren't all that different from one another.

Take time over the upcoming holiday season to try and capture your relatives WWII memories - both the ones who served in the military, and the civilians who lived through the terrible times at home. Keep their memories alive so future generations don't forget!