It tells the story of a 13-year-old German American boy, "Kyle Vogel," who finds his Grandpa Bud's World War II footlocker during a game of hide and seek. Kyle (who calls his grandparents "Opa" and "Oma", the German words for grandfather and grandmother) strikes a deal with his grandfather to tell the stories behind any three objects he picks out of the footlocker
Memorial Day, 1993. When 13-year-old Kyle Vogel discovers the World War II footlocker belonging to his grandfather, Bud, everyone tells Kyle to put it back. Luckily, he ignores them. Although Bud has never talked about the war, he finds himself striking a deal with his grandson: Kyle can pick any three souvenirs, and Bud will tell him the stories behind each one. Memorial Day not only takes us on a journey into Bud's complicated wartime past, but also into Kyle's wartime future. As the two men share parallel experiences in combat, they come to realize how that magical day on the porch shaped both of their lives.
