Memorial Day Thoughts

D&D Farm

Gold Site Supporter
A fellow vet sent me this the other day. For me, says a lot about OUR country and those that are still present, though mostly unseen.........God bless OUR country......Dennis


As I came out of the supermarket that sunny day, pushing my cart of groceries towards my car, I saw an old man with the hood of his car up and a lady sitting inside the car, with the door open.

The old man was looking at the engine. I put my groceries away in my car, and continued to watch the old gentleman from about twenty five feet away.

I saw a young man in his early twenties with a grocery bag in his arm walking towards the old man. The old gentleman saw him coming too, and took a few steps towards him.

I saw the old gentleman point to his open hood and say something. The young man put his grocery bag into what looked like a brand new Cadillac Escalade. He then turned back to the old man. I heard him yell at the old gentleman saying:

'You shouldn't even be allowed to drive a car at your age.' And then with a wave of his hand, he got in his car and peeled rubber out of the parking lot.

I saw the old gentleman pull out his handkerchief, and mop his brow as he went back to his car and again looked at the engine.

He then went to his wife and spoke with her; he appeared to tell her it would be okay. I had seen enough, and I approached the old man. He saw me coming and stood straight, and as I got near him I said, 'Looks like you're having a problem.'

He smiled sheepishly, and quietly nodded his head. I looked under the hood myself, and knew that whatever the problem was, it was beyond me. Looking around, I saw a gas station up the road, and I told the old man that I would be right back. I drove to the station and went I inside. I saw three attendants working on cars. I approached one of them, and related the problem the old man had with his car. I offered to pay them if they could follow me back down and help him.

The old man had pushed the heavy car under the shade of a tree and appeared to be comforting his wife. When he saw us he s! traightened up and thanked me for my help. As the mechanics diagnosed the problem (overheated engine), I spoke with the old gentleman.

When I shook hands with him earlier, he had noticed my Marine Corps ring and had commented about it, telling me that he had been a Marine too. I nodded and asked the usual question, 'What outfit did you serve with?'

He said that he served with the first Marine Division at Guadalcanal Pelieliu, and Okinawa .

He had hit three of the worst ones, and retired from the Corps after the war was over. As we talked we heard the car engine come on and saw the mechanics lower the hood. They came over to us as the old man reached for his wallet, but was stopped by me. I told him I would just put the bill on my AAA card.

He still reached for the wallet and handed me a card that I assumed had his name and address on it, and I stuck it in my pocket. We all shook hands all around again, and I said my goodbye's to his wife.

I then told the two mechanics that I would follow them back up to the station. Once at the station, I told them that they had interrupted their own jobs to come along with me and help the old man. I said I wanted to pay for the help, but they refused to charge me.

One of them pulled out a card from his pocket, looking exactly like the card the old man had given to me. Both of the men told me then that they were Marine Corps Reserves. Once again we shook hands all around and as I was leaving, one of them told me I should look at the card the old man had given to me. I said I would and drove off.

For some reason I had gone about two blocks, when I pulled over and took the card out of my pocket and looked at it for a long, long time. The name of the old gentleman was on the card in golden leaf and under his name was written: 'Congressional Medal of Honor Society.'
I sat there motionless, looking at the card and reading it over and over. I looked up from the card and smiled to no one but myself and marveled ! that on t! his day, four Marines had all come together because one of us needed help. He was an old man all right, but it felt good to have stood next to greatness and courage, and an honor to have been in his presence.

Remember, as we approach another Memorial Day, OLD men like him gave you, and all of us, FREEDOM for America .
Thanks to those who served and still serve, and to all of those who supported them, and who continue to support them.

America is not at war. The U.S. Military is at war. America is at the Mall.

If you don't stand behind our troops, PLEASE feel free to stand in front of them!

Remember, Freedom isn't Free. Thousands have paid the price, so that you can enjoy what you have today.
LET'S DO THIS: JUST 19 WORDS:
GOD OUR FATHER, WALK THROUGH MY HOUSE AND TAKE AWAY ALL MY WORRIES; AND PLEASE WATCH OVER AND HEAL MY FAMILY; AND PLEASE PROTECT OUR FREEDOMS, AND WATCH OVER OUR TROOPS, WHO ARE DEFENDING THOSE FREEDOMS. AMEN
 
Dennis, though I've never served in the military and know very little of the subject, I certainly enjoyed reading your post. Thanks for sharing this!
 
Wishing a Safe Memorial Day ....

Remember in your prayers for those who gave ALL !!!!
Pray for the families >>>>


........ two guns
 

Attachments

  • Memorial Day.jpg
    Memorial Day.jpg
    11.5 KB · Views: 82
Dennis,
for your post, it brings tears to my eyes my friend .....
Thank You Much >>>>

............ jamie
 
yesterday i went to get my meds filled and normally i have atleast 20.00 in my wallet well today i was broke nuthing at all in my wallet. i was dreading for the red light to stop while i was next to the marine with the bucket but as luck would have it it turned red and i was right next to him. he walked up but all i could say was i was broke and had nuthing to give.the marine gave me a salute and i waved and left .i went to the store and got my meds but when i got into the truck i rememebred i had alot of rolled up dimes pennies and aalot of quaters that was wedged inside my middle console so i sat in the parking lot to dig it all out . it made me feel good that atleast this time i would have something to give. even though i had the green light to go through i stopped and dropped two hand fulls of rolled pennies about 5 rolls of dimes and one rols of quaters total the old guy saluted me and the other guy said god bless you son. i still feel bad about not remembereing the money when i passed the first guy. i never celibrate memorial day because i don't think it's right to have a party cause someone died. i just sit back and think of the guys who are still out there doing this day in and day out. anotherthing is why do they fly the flag half mass when a goverment offical dies ? why not keep the flag at half mass til all our boys come home ..is a senators death more important than a grunt who died in a hod hole in another country for us ??? when our buys come home in a box they make sure the news people don't show it why is it so bad that we can't have a moment of silense when they show the casket beig loaded and unoaded he deserves alot more that to come home un noticed and hidden like he never happened. they did it for all them walstreet guys who died in 911 they had everyone line up and stand in silence as they carried out the flag drapped coffem what lakes them so much more important than the guys who are out there dieing and fighting ?about the only thing i'm gonna do today is load up all my guns go down into the swamp with some buddies and give these guys a 21 gun salute. there will be no bbq at my house nor will there be any type of party i just can't see throwing a party on some other because of some other guys death..
 
Was watching the news tonight about vets that needed help and did not qualify for all some stupid rules and some community came together to make ramps and widen door ways and the such.
Our government owes these people so much more than they are willing to give it just makes me sick.
God will bless them in the future and rightfully so.

Art
 
When I was enlisted I really appreciated it when people would thank me for my service. I make it a point to do the same whenever I see someone in uniform. Believe me it doesn't happen very much, so our men and women that are serving or have served really appreciate it when someone thanks them for their service.
 
Top