I received this by e-mail and thought it was so touching I wanted to share it with everyone on the forum. While some of us just think of Memorial Day as a day off work, it is a day to remember the fallen, and those serving overseas and everywhere. We tend to forget we still have troops in Iraq that are still giving their lives for our freedom.
I am warning you if you haven't seen this get out the kleenex. If you have seen this watching it again is a reminder of what out servicemen and women sacrifice for our freedom.
A Simple Thank You
Last week, while traveling to Chicago on business, I noticed a Marine sergeant traveling with a folded flag, but did not put two and two together. After we boarded our flight, I turned to the sergeant, who'd been invited to sit in First Class (across 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'm 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 knew them after 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 you please remain in your seats when we open the forward door 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 that I am proud to be an American. So here's a public Thank You to our military Men and Women for what you do so we can live the way we do. Stuart Margel, Washington, D.C. Here are two very very touching photos honored at this years International Picture of the Year.
First Place
Todd Heisler The Rocky Mountain News
When 2nd Lt. James Cathey's body arrived at the Reno Airport, Marines climbed into the cargo hold of the plane and draped the flag over his casket as passengers watched the family gather on the tarmac.
During the arrival of another Marine's casket last year at Denver International Airport, Major Steve Beck described the scene as so powerful: "See the people in the windows? They sat right there in the plane, watching those Marines. You gotta wonder what's going through their minds, knowing that they're on the plane that brought him home," he said. "They will remember being on that plane for the rest of their lives. They're going to remember bringing that Marine home. And they should."
Since I am "link challenged" I can't seem to get both links in this post, I will put the rest of e-mail with the second picture in another post.
Jenny
Here is a link that might be useful: fallen comrade
koijoyiiOriginal Author
youreit
Related Professionals
Wrentham Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Cottonwood Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · San Juan Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Stamford Landscape Contractors · Woburn Landscape Contractors · Amesbury Landscape Contractors · Barrington Landscape Contractors · Columbine Landscape Contractors · Indio Landscape Contractors · Inglewood Landscape Contractors · Kearny Landscape Contractors · Lyndhurst Landscape Contractors · Palatine Landscape Contractors · Maplewood Landscape Contractors · Merrifield Landscape Contractorssheepco
semper_fi
semper_fi