Anybody Watching Today or Tomorrow?

I agree. As many people noted on this board (on IMDB), The Best Years of Our Lives takes place in eternal summer. The location of Boone City would dictate that inclement weather be included, but this film's realism is *so* realistic in its subject: love and forgiveness. Love and forgiveness dictate eternal summer, I'd argue, and for that reason, Memorial Day is the best day to rewatch it.

@Cookie.L.A.--

A breakthrough! (For me.) After all these years, I realize why I also bawl my eyes out at the beginning. That return home always seemed to signify just a return home; and homecomings are always emotional. But that's not the extent of it.

I also attributed the overwhelmingly moving beginning to the overwhelmingly moving soundtrack. But that's not the extent of it, either.

Odd, that a rabble-rousing Leftie pink [insert smiley emoji] should make me realize: the reason The Best Years of Our Lives is so tsunami emotional is because the return via airplane makes the opening one long extended "god"-shot. The feeling is that some very benevolent, very caring overseer is in the cockpit with Al, Fred, and Homer.

Wow, maybe this board will come back to life after all! What a great way to observe Memorial Day for a superb movie.

Homer being the first one in the cab to be dropped off. he is hesitant. He suggests that they go back to Butch's , his uncle's bar before they all go home. Fredrick March's character, Al Stevens says, "You are home".

I get a tug at the heart strings when that is said. I'm a veteran.... Army. Mid to late 70's. I wasn't in a war. I do remember coming home though, and having family and friends treating me "differently".
It wasn't really them. It was me. I had changed and they sensed it but wasn't quite sure of how to act with me.
I hadn't lost hands or limbs. I hadn't been wounded. I had just grown up.
Imagine a man like Homer though. I can only imagine what it must be like for so many of our veterans coming back from then right up to this day!
I can't compare my experiences in the service to what so many before me and since have gone through.
I can only tear up when Al say's,"
You are home "
I think I can understand the strangeness of coming back after simply being trained to kill. It's still nothing when I see the hard time our vets are having today and the hard time my brother had adjusting after his time in Viet Nam...
Coming home is one strange experience. Very emotional. It's so hard to adjust.
That is what this film is all about. I watch it every Memorial Day.