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| Topic: ^*^*^ " Did You Stand ? " ^*^*^ | |
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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!! 
That was a heartfelt story indeed. |
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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!!!!!
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Nessa, you've got a heart of Gold
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! 
Thank You and God Bless!
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 Thank you most kindly ~ Everyone
You are very sweet and the absolute best
... just stepping in for a minute to < bump > this up...
 so everyone gets a chance to read it, for it is a Gem
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Damn, Nessa, You got me all blurry eyed... You aren't the only one. |
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Damn, Nessa, You got me all blurry eyed... You aren't the only one.
thank you 
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Damn, Nessa, You got me all blurry eyed... You aren't the only one.
thank you
My Dad was a SeeBee in Viet Nam. I can't tell him how much I appreciate what he went through. |
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This is a pic of my 18 yr old daughter. She left Tuesday for Parris Island - MCRD. She wants to be a Marine.
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Damn, Nessa, You got me all blurry eyed... You aren't the only one.
thank you
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...
well, please do your best to express it to him,
cause i am sure it will mean a whole lot to him...
I have lots of friends & Family who were in Nam too
as well as in many of the other Wars...
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Damn, Nessa, You got me all blurry eyed... You aren't the only one.
thank you
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...
well, please do your best to express it to him,
cause i am sure it will mean a whole lot to him...
I have lots of friends & Family who were in Nam too
as well as in many of the other Wars...
Believe me. I have tried. He just brushes it off. He says he was " doing what he had to ". |
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This is a pic of my 18 yr old daughter. She left Tuesday for Parris Island - MCRD. She wants to be a Marine. God Bless Her
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Damn, Nessa, You got me all blurry eyed... You aren't the only one.
thank you
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...
well, please do your best to express it to him,
cause i am sure it will mean a whole lot to him...
I have lots of friends & Family who were in Nam too
as well as in many of the other Wars...
Believe me. I have tried. He just brushes it off. He says he was " doing what he had to ". Awww.. ..That is so noble of him...
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Edited by
Rapunzel
on
Fri 08/15/08 07:07 AM
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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! |
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oh my goodness i teared up... :(
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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
in the Military...
I was a new wife & brand new Mother 
during those years
Even though no one else hardly sees the Flag at the very very end of your dead end street that you so proudly wave...
it doesn't matter... 
You wave that American Flag for the pride & love
it gives you inside...
that is all that matters...
if others appreciate it...great..
if not... 
oh well... 
at least you appreciate "Old Glory"
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oh my goodness i teared up... :( ohhh... yes...thank you Sorority gurl...
only someone without a heart wouldn't tear up
 hope you have some < waterproof> make up on...
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Did You Stand?
A True Story
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." 
I gave my legs in '43  and my oldest son in '67 to that Lady, so she could keep walking. It hurts when no one cares that she walks by.
I missed my flight that day, but my heart and soul found wings to the heavens
on the words of an 90 year old man
who dared to share a heart full of memories with me
and dared to remind me why Old Glory stills waves as the beacon of Hope in a lost world.
By Robert VanDerslice
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************
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