Topic: ^*^*^ " Did You Stand ? " ^*^*^
TxsGal3333's photo
Thu 08/14/08 11:46 AM
Not only do I stand as she goes by but....she is the first thing I see each morning as I walk out my door and the last thing I see as I get home each night.

I have a flag that is out 24/7 to remind me how lucky we really are!!bigsmile


That was a heartfelt story indeed.

my3girlsrcbk's photo
Thu 08/14/08 11:48 AM
That was awesome. I got blurry eyed and goose bumps all over. Thank you for sharing. THANK YOU to ANYONE and EVERYONE who ever served for our freedom!!!!!

Joaverage's photo
Thu 08/14/08 11:55 AM
Nessa, you've got a heart of Gold :heart:
And we are reminded daily of how lucky we are to
live in this country. The brave just keep giving.
And you are one of them Nessa!flowerforyou
Thank You and God Bless! flowerforyou

Rapunzel's photo
Thu 08/14/08 02:26 PM
blushing flowerforyou :heart: Thank you most kindly ~ Everyone :heart: flowerforyou blushing

:heart: You are very sweet and the absolute best :heart:


flowerforyou... just stepping in for a minute to < bump > this up...flowerforyou


drinker so everyone gets a chance to read it, for it is a Gem drinker



Rapunzel's photo
Thu 08/14/08 09:46 PM
:heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart:

JustAGuy2112's photo
Thu 08/14/08 09:50 PM

Damn, Nessa, You got me all blurry eyed...


You aren't the only one.

Rapunzel's photo
Thu 08/14/08 09:53 PM


Damn, Nessa, You got me all blurry eyed...


You aren't the only one.


drinker drinker drinker


thank you smokin


flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou



JustAGuy2112's photo
Thu 08/14/08 09:54 PM



Damn, Nessa, You got me all blurry eyed...


You aren't the only one.


drinker drinker drinker


thank you smokin


flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou





My Dad was a SeeBee in Viet Nam. I can't tell him how much I appreciate what he went through.

no photo
Thu 08/14/08 10:04 PM
This is a pic of my 18 yr old daughter. She left Tuesday for Parris Island - MCRD. She wants to be a Marine.

Rapunzel's photo
Thu 08/14/08 10:09 PM




Damn, Nessa, You got me all blurry eyed...


You aren't the only one.


drinker drinker drinker


thank you smokin


flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou





My Dad was a SeeBee in Viet Nam. I can't tell him how much I appreciate what he went through.



That's very awesome...smokin

well, please do yoursmokin best to express it to him,drinker

cause i am sure it will mean a whole lot to him...smokin

I have lots of friends & Family who were in Nam toodrinker

as well as in many of the other Wars...smokin

JustAGuy2112's photo
Thu 08/14/08 10:10 PM





Damn, Nessa, You got me all blurry eyed...


You aren't the only one.


drinker drinker drinker


thank you smokin


flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou





My Dad was a SeeBee in Viet Nam. I can't tell him how much I appreciate what he went through.



That's very awesome...smokin

well, please do yoursmokin best to express it to him,drinker

cause i am sure it will mean a whole lot to him...smokin

I have lots of friends & Family who were in Nam toodrinker

as well as in many of the other Wars...smokin


Believe me. I have tried. He just brushes it off. He says he was " doing what he had to ".

Rapunzel's photo
Thu 08/14/08 10:11 PM

This is a pic of my 18 yr old daughter. She left Tuesday for Parris Island - MCRD. She wants to be a Marine.



flowerforyou :heart: flowerforyou God Bless Her flowerforyou :heart: flowerforyou

Rapunzel's photo
Thu 08/14/08 10:12 PM






Damn, Nessa, You got me all blurry eyed...


You aren't the only one.


drinker drinker drinker


thank you smokin


flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou





My Dad was a SeeBee in Viet Nam. I can't tell him how much I appreciate what he went through.



That's very awesome...smokin

well, please do yoursmokin best to express it to him,drinker

cause i am sure it will mean a whole lot to him...smokin

I have lots of friends & Family who were in Nam toodrinker

as well as in many of the other Wars...smokin


Believe me. I have tried. He just brushes it off. He says he was " doing what he had to ".




drinker Awww..smokin ..That is so noble of him...drinker

Rapunzel's photo
Fri 08/15/08 07:06 AM
Edited by Rapunzel on Fri 08/15/08 07:07 AM
drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker drinker




no photo
Fri 08/15/08 07:22 AM
Some people think I'm a little "off" for flying the flag on my home.....no one sees it, I'm in the country at the end of a dead end road......

That was a beautiful thing and I am still wiping the tears....

I'm proud, even if no one else was back then!!!

United States Army - 1972-1976

And still in government service in a "safety related" position!

no photo
Fri 08/15/08 07:24 AM
oh my goodness i teared up... :(

Rapunzel's photo
Fri 08/15/08 07:33 AM

Some people think I'm a little "off" for flying the flag on my home.....no one sees it, I'm in the country at the end of a dead end road......

That was a beautiful thing and I am still wiping the tears....

I'm proud, even if no one else was back then!!!

United States Army - 1972-1976

And still in government service in a "safety related" position!




Thank you so much for your service drinker

in the Military...smokin

I was a new wife & brand new Mother happy

during those years flowerforyou


Even though no one else hardly sees the Flag

at the very very end of your dead end street

that you so proudly wave... drinker

it doesn't matter...noway


You wave that American Flag for the pride & love :heart:

it gives you inside...drinker


that is all that matters...smokin

if others appreciate it...great..drinker


if not...indifferent

oh well... huh


drinker at least you appreciate "Old Glory"


Rapunzel's photo
Fri 08/15/08 07:36 AM

oh my goodness i teared up... :(




flowerforyou ohhh... yes...thank you Sorority gurl...flowerforyou

huh only someone without a heart wouldn't tear up huh


:wink: hope you have some < waterproof> make up on...:wink:



happy

Rapunzel's photo
Fri 08/15/08 11:20 PM

drinker Did You Stand? drinker

:heart: A True Story :heart:

May 20, 2005


I was sitting the other day in a crowded airport, waiting for a boarding call on my flight to Arizona.
As I sat there , I noticed an old man sitting across from me facing the large picture window that gave passengers a view of the runway. The history of a life of hardship traced the old mans eyes as they stared into the twilight of his years, and as I watched, I saw tears rolling from those ancient steel gray eyes, leaving a trail of sadness that tore at my heart. I got up and walked to him and asked if I could join him. Without even looking up to identify me, he nodded, and I sat down, feeling awkward but intensely drawn to him in compassion for his quiet tears.

"I'm sorry, but I couldn't help but notice you sitting here alone. Are you ok?" I asked.

There was a deafening silence suddenly between us, for what seemed a long time, and finally he spoke in a voice that was worn and weary with age."Did you stand when she walked by?" he asked.

I was confused by his question, and a bit taken off guard by the tone of his voice that sounded almost accusatory.

"I don't understand sir, , I answered."Did you stand when she walked by?" he asked again, staring straight into my eyes. "Who?" I asked him. But he turned away from me, staring again at the tarmac just outside our window.

I waited for an answer, but there was not going to be any. Our conversation was over it seemed, and I got up to leave, hearing the call to board that by this time, was welcome as an excuse to get out of an awkward situation.

I started walking away, but was troubled and torn by his question. I boarded my plane after clearing the gate, found my seat , and settled into it, looking back at the terminal I had just left. He was there as I had left him, sitting alone facing the tarmac.

I watched for several minutes, and in that time I noticed a number of people stop to visit with him, presumably to ask if he was ok, and then walk away, some of them shaking there heads, others just gone from view at a brisk pace. And still he sat , fixated on a plane that was resting about 300 yards away, surrounded by military personnel.

As I watched, a small procession of 6 men carried a flag draped coffin away from the plane to a waiting hearse, where they stood after the rear door of the black car had been closed and they offer a salute as the car slowly drove away. I looked back toward the window of the terminal, and instantly my tears nearly blinded me when I saw the old man I had been talking to also offering a salute, but from his wheel chair now parked next to the window.

Since our craft had used a rolling stair gantry for passenger access, I got up, and made my way to the door of the plane, and got off. I walked deliberately, heading for the terminal, making my way through the crowds to the old man at the window. I walked up beside him, faced the plane as yet another coffin draped with Old Glory was placed in a waiting hearse, and I slowly raised my hand in salute, allowing my hand to drop only when the hearse rolled out of view around a security fence.

I turned slowly to the old man who by now was looking solidly into my soul with eyes of countless memories.

"I know her name now sir, and I stood when she walked by."

He was visibly moved, and he said to me in quavering voice ,"Thank you sir . . . for what you did. My greatest wish these days is to stand again for her, but I can't." sad

I gave my legs in '43 :cry: and my oldest son in '67 sad to that Lady,:heart: so she could keep walking. drinker It hurts when no one cares that she walks by. sad

:heart: I missed my flight that day, but my heart and soul found wings to the heavens :heart:

blushing on the words of an 90 year old man blushing
:heart: who dared to share a heart full of memories with me :heart:
and dared to remind me why Old Glory stills waves drinker as the beacon of Hope in a lost world. :cry: blushing :heart: blushing :cry:



:heart: :cry: :heart: :cry: :heart: :cry: :heart:


By Robert VanDerslice drinker




zanne46's photo
Fri 08/15/08 11:32 PM
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