Memorial Day Is.....
Frank Z
Posts: 5,860
.....Not just another day-off! It is a National holiday that should be preserved and honored. I leave you all with this...
This is a true account written by Army Captain John Rasmussen and published
by ARMY LINK NEWS on May 22, 2002.
It was raining "cats and dogs" and I was late for physical training.
Traffic was backed up at Fort Campbell, Ky., and was moving way too slowly.
I was probably going to be late and I was growing more and more impatient.
The pace slowed almost to a standstill as I passed Memorial Grove, the site
built to honor the soldiers who died in the Gander airplane crash, the worst
redeployment accident in the history of the 101st Airborne Division (Air
Assault).
Because it was close to Memorial Day, a small American flag had been placed
in the ground next to each soldier's memorial plaque.
My concern at the time, however, was getting past the bottleneck, getting
out of the rain and getting to PT on time.
All of a sudden, infuriatingly, just as the traffic was getting started
again, the car in front of me stopped.
A soldier, a private of course, jumped out in the pouring rain and ran over
toward the grove.
I couldn't believe it! This knucklehead was holding up everyone for who
knows what kind of prank. Horns were honking. I waited to see the
butt-chewing that I wanted him to get for making me late.
He was getting soaked to the skin. His BDUs were plastered to his frame.
I watched-as he ran up to one of the memorial plaques, picked up the small
American flag that had fallen to the ground in the wind and the rain, and
set it upright again.
Then, slowly, he came to attention, saluted, ran back to his car, and drove
off.
I'll never forget that incident. That soldier, whose name I will never know,
taught me more about duty, honor, and respect than a hundred books or a
thousand lectures.
That simple salute -- that single act of honoring his fallen brother and his
flag -- encapsulated all the Army values in one gesture for me. It said, "I
will never forget. I will keep the faith. I will finish the mission. I am an
American soldier."
I thank God for examples like that.
And on this Memorial Day, I will remember all those who paid the ultimate
price for my freedom, and one private, soaked to the skin, who honored them.
_________________________________________________________________
This is a true account written by Army Captain John Rasmussen and published
by ARMY LINK NEWS on May 22, 2002.
It was raining "cats and dogs" and I was late for physical training.
Traffic was backed up at Fort Campbell, Ky., and was moving way too slowly.
I was probably going to be late and I was growing more and more impatient.
The pace slowed almost to a standstill as I passed Memorial Grove, the site
built to honor the soldiers who died in the Gander airplane crash, the worst
redeployment accident in the history of the 101st Airborne Division (Air
Assault).
Because it was close to Memorial Day, a small American flag had been placed
in the ground next to each soldier's memorial plaque.
My concern at the time, however, was getting past the bottleneck, getting
out of the rain and getting to PT on time.
All of a sudden, infuriatingly, just as the traffic was getting started
again, the car in front of me stopped.
A soldier, a private of course, jumped out in the pouring rain and ran over
toward the grove.
I couldn't believe it! This knucklehead was holding up everyone for who
knows what kind of prank. Horns were honking. I waited to see the
butt-chewing that I wanted him to get for making me late.
He was getting soaked to the skin. His BDUs were plastered to his frame.
I watched-as he ran up to one of the memorial plaques, picked up the small
American flag that had fallen to the ground in the wind and the rain, and
set it upright again.
Then, slowly, he came to attention, saluted, ran back to his car, and drove
off.
I'll never forget that incident. That soldier, whose name I will never know,
taught me more about duty, honor, and respect than a hundred books or a
thousand lectures.
That simple salute -- that single act of honoring his fallen brother and his
flag -- encapsulated all the Army values in one gesture for me. It said, "I
will never forget. I will keep the faith. I will finish the mission. I am an
American soldier."
I thank God for examples like that.
And on this Memorial Day, I will remember all those who paid the ultimate
price for my freedom, and one private, soaked to the skin, who honored them.
_________________________________________________________________
Post edited by RyanC_Masimo on
Comments
-
Frank,
Great read, thanks!!!Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
Your Welcome... but lets all take a minute to thank those that truly deserve it.....those that have made the ultimate sacrifice for each and everyone of us
