A couple of months ago I was at the shooting range. I had my police motor parked near a table where we load our magazines and clean our weapons. Down range you could see the targets of human silhouettes hanging. While there I heard someone say loudly, "Who's motorcycle is this?" There were three of our motors parked at the range and turning around I noticed a group of about 15 to 20 men dressed in black BDU's standing at the rear of my police motor.
I answered that it was my motor parked there. One out of the group asked me about the blue star flag which I have on the back of my motor. I told him I have a son who is currently serving in the armed forces. This person who appeared to be the spokesperson for this group said, "Tell him thank you from us for his service." I told him I would make sure that he knew.
About a week ago I was running errands with my youngest son who is in the second grade. The errands took a little longer than I had planned. My son being hungry chose to eat at a nearby restaurant. While we were seated I noticed that something had his attention. Looking to my left, I saw that my son was staring at two uniformed soldiers who had walked in.
My son asked me why they were here. I guess to him it seemed a little different to actually see a couple of soldiers in a restaurant to eat lunch.
After we had finished our lunch, we approached the soldiers table. I excused our intrusion as I extended my hand to thank them both for their service. I got a firm hand shake, a slight look of surprise and a polite "You're welcome." My son shook both of their hands and said, "Thanks for protecting me."
I think he understands to the best of his limited life's experience why and how they protect our way of life.
So today while we are celebrating this extra day off, having family and friends over for a barbeque, please take a small moment of time out of your day to remember those who are serving in distant countries and are without their families. Remember those families who's lives have been forever changed due to the loss of their loved one(s) who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the protection of our way of life.
"Courage is resistance to fear, mastering of fear - not absence of fear." Mark Twain
Well said my friend!
ReplyDeleteI was with my kids eating lunch about 5 yrs ago. 3 marines were sitting at the table next to me. My boy who was 11 at the time, couldn't stop looking at them, all impressed. I quietly left the table, got the waitress, and asked for their bill and paid it. I wasn't looking for anything and we were about to get up and leave. The Marines asked for their bill just before we left and the waitress told them I had paid it for them. They were very thankful and said "nobody has ever done that before". I said "well it's long overdue then, thanks for your service". Best $40 I ever spent...
ReplyDelete2WT,
ReplyDeleteFrom the other side of the uniform, Thank You. Probably the most powerful emotional experience I've ever had was coming home on leave from over "there". Walking through ABQ in my desert camo's, I got a standing ovation from the entire concourse of passengers. Pretty humbling stuff, that.
Coincidentally, your sign-off is the same Twain quote I use on my phone. Nice to see someone else using it, it says a lot to me.
Stay safe, take care of each other, and take care of the job. In that order.
Jared