I did not write the following. I don't know who did. I received it as a forwarded e-mail.
The message contained, in this short story, points up the "Cost of Freedom".
We all need a jolt, every now and again, to understand what the men and women who fight our wars, and guarantee our freedom, sacrifice in order to do their jobs.
Please read the following, then say a short prayer that God will extend his protecting arm over these, our heroes.
A Simple Thank You
Last week, while traveling to Chicago on business, I noticed a Marine sergeant traveling with a folded flag, but I did not put two and two together.
After we'd boarded our flight, I turned to the sergeant, who'd been invited to sit in First Class (and was seated across the aisle from me), and inquired if he was heading home.
"No," he responded.
"Heading out?" I asked.
"No. I'm escorting a soldier home."
"Going to pick him up?"
"No. He is with me right now. He was killed in Iraq.I am taking him home to his family."
The realization of what he had been asked to do hit me like a punch to the gut. It was an honor for him. He told me that, although he didn't know the soldier, he had delivered the news of his passing to the soldier's family and felt as if he did know them after so many conversations in so few days.
I turned back to him, extended my hand, and said, "Thank you.
Thank you for doing what you do so my family and I can do what we do."Upon landing in Chicago, the pilot stopped short of the gate and made the following announcement over the intercom:
"Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to note that we have had the honor of having Sergeant Steeley, of the United States Marine Corps, join us on this flight. He is escorting a fallen comrade back home to his family. I ask that your please remain in your seats when we open the forward door so as to allow Sergeant Steeley to deplane and receive his fellow soldier. We will then turn off the seat belt sign."
Without a sound, all went as requested. I noticed the sergeant saluting the casket as it was brought off the plane, and his action made me realize two things: I am proud to be an American, and I will continue to fly on American Airlines because it respects what our soldiers do every day. So here's a public thank-you to our military for doing what you do so we can live the way we do.
Author Unknown
Please make it a point to thank a man, or woman, in uniform when you chance to meet them. It will mean so much to them.
Thanks,
Longstreet
7 comments:
Awesome post... And yes, the men and women in uniform really are glad to know that we DO love em and respect em... And support the job they are doing...
Thanks a lot. Your overuse of the word "freedom" has rendered it meaningless. What do you think freedom is? In this country, at this very moment in DC, a man who had a dream of owning his own fast food franchise may have his permit, which was obtained legally, stripped. Why? Because some of the residents around him want to sip wine at an outdoor cafe, and his business isn't "classy" enough. That isn't freedom. There are thousands of stories like this every day in this country. Wake up and think for yourself, and please, quit abusing that flag and that word.
"Wake up and think for yourself, and please, quit abusing that flag and that word."
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Madam: I have been thinking for myself since I was a little older than you appear to be... about five, I'd say, judging from the depth of your understanding of Freedom and what the US Flag stands for.
Such a narrow definition of freedom, as you expressed here, is inexcusable in an American... save for those who are products of the American Public School system, and University System.
Since you appear to be in DC, may I suggest you take a short drive across the bridge to Arlington. Walk among the white crosses, and Stars of David, on that hallowed ground. Stroll over to the Lee Mansion and the tomb of the Unknown Soldier and listen. Just listen. Stand quietly... and hear the the pain, the suffering and the sacrifice made by the servicemen buried in that hallowed ground. Now... slowly lift your eyes heavenward and rest your vision on the flowing folds of Old Glory as it ruffles and snaps in the breeze which forever brushes softly against the moist cheeks and rouge colored eyelids of the visitors to this sanctified piece of ground and soothes the souls of the families of the interred servicemen who lie, caressed by the soil, beneath you.
Then madam, then, you can tell me that the word FREEDOM means nothing! That the flag flying so proudly over the burial place of the men who died to ensure your FREEDOM means nothing!
It is your kind of thinking, madam, which ensures that our men and women in uniform will forever be battling the forces of evil, because prattle, such as you spouted above, leads them to believe that the majority of Americans have the callous attitude about Freedom expressed so eloquently in your comment.
Thank you, so very much, for making my case for me, madam.
As you grow in years, may your understanding of America and what it stands for mature as well.
Good day!
Longstreet
Wonderful post. I always thank every service person I see. I flew on Oct. 3, after 9-11. It was announced on my flight that our pilot used to fly F-16's, and that we were in good hands. I still get the chill bumps when I remember the applause and cheer he got after that announcement.
The funny (& sad) thing about freedom is you are free to dismiss it, free to take it for granted. Free to give it up for a false sense of security, and free to overlook EXACTLY what it is. Freedom is not free and obviously neither is intelligence! This comment is not directed at anyone inparticular, maybe our nation as a whole, for when it comes to defending freedoms at home we have ALL (myself included) falling short. So if you see it as personal instead of attacking me, look in the mirror we can only change this country 1 person at a time, and we can only change ourselves!
Longstreet, you can never use the word 'freedom' too much.
Too few people even understand they are exercising their freedoms even as they bash any of us for using the word too much.
Sure there is much going on in this country and in our government that isn't right, but to attack a fellow countryman as being too patriotic or using expressions too much using the excuse noted above is just plain silly.
Those that need to be brought to task for what your earlier poster mentioned (imminent domain, something WE are upset about as well) are sitting in a couple of buildings in DC and I suggest that your earlier poster would be using her energies better to send that particular message to them instead of attacking you for using 'freedom' too much.
BTW- Your reply to her was wonderful.
Thank you, "Little Ole lady", you are very kind!
Longstreet
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