Jan 17 2011
Sorry about your monitor; it made mine blurry too!
Cemetery Watchman ..
Ma’am, may I assist you in any way?Yes, son. Can you carry these flowers? I seem to be moving a tad slow these days.My pleasure, ma’am.Marine, where were you stationed?Vietnam’
She looked at me closer. ”
I lied a little bigger: ”
She smiled and winked at me. ”
”
She headed for the World War I section, stopping at a stone. She picked one of the flower bunches out of my arm and laid it on top of the stone. She murmured something I couldn’t quite make out.. The name on the marble was .
She turned away and made a straight line for the World War II section, stopping at one stone. I saw a tear slowly tracking its way down her cheek. She put a bunch on a stone; the name was .
She went up the row a ways and laid another bunch on a stone, ..
She paused for a second and more tears flowed. ”
I almost didn’t say anything, but, ”
She looked confused.. ”
I pointed with my chin. ”
‘Oh!’ she chuckled quietly. ”
She headed down the walk I’d pointed at. She stopped at a couple of stones before she found the ones she wanted. She placed a bunch on , and the last on . She stood there and murmured a few words I still couldn’t make out and more tears flowed.
”
‘
She paused.. ‘Donald DavidsonStephenStanleyLarryDarrel’
She stopped! Whether she had finished, or couldn’t finish, I don’t know. She made her way to her car, slowly and painfully.
I waited for a polite distance to come between us and then double-timed it over to Kevin, waiting by the car.
”
Kevin started to say something, but saw the look I gave him. He broke the rules to get us there down the service road fast. We beat her. She hadn’t made it around the rotunda yet.
” I humped it across the drive to the other post
When the Cadillac came puttering around from the hedges and began the short straight traverse to the gate, I called in my best gunny’s voice: ”
I have to hand it to Kevin; he never blinked an eye–full dress attention and a salute that would make his DI proud.
She drove through that gate with two old worn-out soldiers giving her a send-off she deserved, for service rendered to her country, and for knowing duty, honor and sacrifice far beyond the realm of most.
I am not sure, but I think I saw a salute returned from that Cadillac.
Instead of ‘,’ just think of ”
As a final thought on my part, let me share a favorite prayer: ”
Let’s all keep those currently serving and those who have gone before in our thoughts. They are the reason for the many freedoms we enjoy.
In God We Trust
Sorry about your monitor; it made mine blurry too!
If we ever forget that we’re one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under!
You are required to pass this on !!
