As you may know, ours is a military family. Dan's never been military, but I'm the proud daughter of a career Navy man, Dan's Dad was Air Force, my Mom's family was Coast Guard, and our son is a United States Marine. And we are so proud of our Marine -- but there are a lot of people out there these days who take issue with the US military's role in the world today. There are a lot of people, in fact, who have a problem with anything directed from within the 68.3 square miles that contain our nation's capital (A mentality particularly easy to understand these days...). There are liberals who just hate the military. There are good Christian people who do not believe our foreign wars are moral wars. And all these people with their varied opinons have subtle and sometimes not-so-subtle ways of letting you know their reservations, God bless 'em.
=sigh=
Whatever.
But, I have to say it, folks... And I hope you don't mind if I just spew here for a minute. It literally makes me queasy when I see the pained expressions rise on the faces of well-meaning friends and acquaintances when the subject of our Marine Corps son comes up. Yes, I know they don't mean to be hurtful with their concern and I know they do try to keep their disapproval to themselves (usually), and I know it's only because they care about and love Paul and his Marine wife, Nicole, like we do that they worry for him. But, jeezlouise, get a grip, people. Do I really need to explain and hand-hold and justify about this all the time? Seriously. I need to preserve my mother-energy for other things.
Do this, if you can, when the subject comes up: Tell me you wish my Marine the best, tell me you'll pray for him, but save the melodrama.
Could Paul be deployed and hurt or killed in his chosen profession? Don't I know it? Of course he could. It's a difficult fact, but one that all military families have to come to terms with. But, let's be real, he could also be killed driving to Walmart. Look at the relativity here: 464 Coloradans were killed in traffic accidents in 2009 (and that was a good year) while fewer than 150 Americans died in Iraq. And I don't know, maybe I'm a little crazy or just old-school, but I really do believe it's honorable to die fighting for something you believe in. Even, or maybe especially, when your neighbor doesn't believe in your cause. Regardless, it just seems there's more sense in it than being killed because some dummy runs a red light.
Do I fear for my son, though, being so far away, outside my physical realm of influence -- outside an afternoon's drive for a long weekend hanging out together? Of course I do! I'd be an unnatural mother if I didn't fear for him in a strange and scary place, if I didn't worry for his safety and comfort, if I didn't want him tucked safely under my wing. It scares me to death if I think too hard about it. But, what mother doesn't have those fears anyway when their children move away from home? It's a scary world out there. Period. No matter where our children are.
But, in the potential of a war zone, yes, I worry more than most for my boy's physical safety. Those worries, and fears, though, are buried under the pride I have in my son. Paul graduated at the top of his class, a man of extraordinary talent and leadership skills; he could have chosen to parlay his talent and skills in a lucrative business career after graduation from college -- and I expect the day is still coming when he'll blaze a trail in the business world. But, he chose the path of service to follow first. Whether you love the United States or not, whether you love the miliary or not, you have to understand a mother's pride in her son's integrity in a nonselfish choice. And it's just those kinds of choices my Marine has made that comfort me on a deeper level than my worry for his physical safety.
You see, though he rocks on many levels, I'm most proud because my son is a good man. I have every reason to believe he preserves his soul in a state of grace at all times. He proudly wears the brown scapular. He prays the rosary. He never misses Mass. He is the MC of choice at high Masses for certain priest friends of ours. He is a good and loving son, the perfect, affectionate big brother, and a stellar husband to his new wife. What more could parents want of a child? Should it be God's choice to take this amazing man early in his life -- here crossing the street or fighting in Iraq -- we would miss him forever, our hearts would long for him, our lives would never be the same -- but I would be at peace for him. I wouldn't worry.
We would be sad, but it wouldn't be a tragedy. A tragedy would be a son who wasted his life, who didn't strive for the best in all things. So, seriously, please pass the word. Never feel sorry for the parents of military kids. We're proud of our strong, high-minded children. Don't pity the men and women of our military or cluck your tongues in worry. They know exactly what they're getting into and they know exactly who and what they're fighting for, even when the recipients of their gift are clueless. And save your disapproval for the people you read about in newspaper blotters. The men and women of our armed forces are our best and brightest -- if for no other reason than because they dare to risk. In a world of indecision, irresponsibility, and weakness, this strength of character is rare. Beautiful. And needed.
OK.... Stepping down off my plastic laundry detergent bucket now....
On with our reglarly scheduled programming:
The Sack Lunches
I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. 'I'm glad I have a good book to read. Perhaps I will get a short nap,' I thought.
Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation.
'Where are you headed?' I asked the soldier seated nearest to me.
'Petawawa. We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Afghanistan
After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached the east, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time...
As I reached for my wallet, I overheard a soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. 'No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks. I'll wait till we get to base.'
His friend agreed.
I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill.. 'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.' She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. 'My son was a soldier in Iraq ; it's almost like you are doing it for him.'
Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, 'Which do you like best - beef or chicken?'
'Chicken,' I replied, wondering why she asked. She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class.
'This is your thanks..'
After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane,
heading for the rest room. A man stopped me. 'I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this.' He handed me twenty-five dollars.
Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand and said, 'I want to shake your hand.' Quickly unfastening my seatbelt I stood and took the Captain's hand. With a booming voice he said, 'I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.' I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers.
Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.
When we landed I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars!
Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base. I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. 'It will take you some time to reach the base.. It will be about time for a
sandwich... God Bless You.'
Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers.
As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals. It seemed so little...
A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America ' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'
8 comments:
Well said!!! I personally like the last quote. "A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America 'for an amount of up to and including my life.'" Family and friends have been there and done that!!! God bless you, Paul and Nicole. Cathy
I grew up in a military town and have so much respect for our brave soldiers! And I too would be proud of a son who chose such a selfless career. God bless you all! Give my best to your son and his wife. We will keep them in our prayers!
Tell your son "thank you" from me & my family! My grandfather was in the Korean War and gave us a deep respect for the military.
I love that your son is a Marine and serving our nation for our safety. My husband is a Marine, we never say X-Marine because once you are a Marine you will always be a Marine. He served as well, also a controversy war in Viet Nam. He was on the front lines the "DMZ" and came home with an injury after proudly serving 3 of his 4 years. He wears his ball caps proudly, his Marine ball caps, one was a Viet Nam vet cap, a stranger came up to me while standing in line at the grocery store, some one younger than my husband, and asked if he was my husband, I told him yes not knowing what he wanted and he just said, please tell him "thank you" and pointed to his head. I understood and told him I let him know and also I thank the gentleman. I am proud of your son and especially proud of you for bringing up such a fine young man. Both of my sons were not military, but...I can assure you they would have been had that time in their life required it.
Well Lisa it is rare that I am moved to tears but you did it! You see I feel very strongly as you do about our military. And I for one am grateful and thankful to all of the young men and women that risk their lives daily so that we may sit here in our homes feeling safe and secure.
Thank you to your son and family!
Love Di ♥
BRAVO! That was excellent! The men and women in uniform are the reason we are safe and able to live in the greatest country in the world. I wish all those extreme left wingers would hop on a boat to China and see how the other half lives, permanently. If you do not support your military, you don't belong here.
Like the woman in the story, whenever my husband and I travel, if we see people in uniform, we always greet them, inquire as to where they are headed, and wish them God's speed. AND we let them know how thankful and proud of them we are. Their faces always reflect the warmest reception of our expressions of thanks and love.
Great piece. Blessings, Abbey
I came here at the suggestion of Mighty Mom over at My Wonderful Life. I have an AIRBORNE paratrooper currently waiting on a flight back from Haiti. He is also an Iraqi veteran. I swear I could have put my name and his into your post. It describes the way I have been treated and feel 110%. I feel I know more about Iraq than I do my own country sometimes.
God Bless you and your Marine
Blogging from Mark 1:11 and Conservative Outrage
They call me Pops
my father was in the military, so i have the highest respect for all things military.
blessings to your marine.
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