When the Music Stopped...

[I received the follwing in an email from an old friend and fellow artillery officer with whom I served in Germany many years ago.  gjr]

(For those who  are unaware: At all military base theaters, the National Anthem is played  before the movie begins.)

This is written from  a Chaplain in Iraq:

I recently attended  a showing of 'Superman 3' here at LSA Anaconda. We have a large auditorium  that we use for movies as well as memorial services and other large  gatherings.

As is the  custom at all military bases, we stood to attention  when The National  Anthem began before  the main feature.  All was going  well until three-quarters of the way through The National  Anthem, the music  stopped.

Now, what would  happen if this occurred with 1,000 18-to-22-year-olds back in the  States?  I imagine that there would be hoots, catcalls, laughter, a few  rude comments, and everyone would sit down and yell for the movie to begin. Of  course, that is, only if they had stood forThe National  Anthem in the first  place.

Here in Iraq 1,000 soldiers  continued to stand at attention, eyes fixed forward. The music started again,  and the soldiers continued to quietly stand at attention.  Again, though,  at the same point, the music stopped. What would you expect 1,000 soldiers  standing at attention to do??  Frankly, I expected some laughter, and  everyone would eventually sit down and wait for the movie to  start.

No!. . . You could  have heard a pin drop while every soldier continued to stand at  attention.

Suddenly, there was  a lone voice from the front of the auditorium, then a dozen voices, and soon  the room was filled with the voices of a thousand soldiers, finishing where  the recording left off: "And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in  air, gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.  Oh,  say, does that Star Spangled Banner yet wave, o'er the land of the free, and  the home of the brave."

It was the most  inspiring moment I have had in Iraq, and I wanted you  to know what kind of U.S. Soldiers are  serving you!  Remember them as they fight for us!

Comments

[D. King]

Thanks for that!

Here George, send this to your friend.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jU8zyB3W0pU

[Russ Steele]

It makes this old vet very proud of our troops on the battle fields around the globe. Well done, well done indeed!

[Todd Juvinall]

Wonderful, no wonder we all love America.

[Todd Juvinall]

Dave, that was great!

[Douglas "Better Ideas" Keachie]

Should be a regular thing, and pipe it out to loud speakers on the perimeter so the taliban can hear it. Of course they would take advantage, until they learned that we use tapes most the time, and soldiers are on full alert, tracking all incoming and retaliating instanter, and the auditorium is empty.

[D. King]

Todd,
I’ve heard this before, especially from folks deployed to FOLs (Forward Operating Locations). Sometimes the guys get the feeling we don’t care. I always tell them that people do care; don’t ever doubt that.

[Russ Steele]

The Friends of Nevada County Military send "we care" packages every month. They average 60 to 80 boxes a month. The community really steps up to the challenge and fills those boxes with caring love every month.

[Todd Juvinall]

Russ and George attend as many others from our county do. Last month there were many people who came for the first time and they said they just wanted to help and support the troops. Great people. Terry and Maxine are always there too as is Fred.

[D. King]

That's fantastic Russ. They drink a lot of bottled water over there. I've found that "Crystal Light Raspberry Ice” flavor tea mix is like gold :)

http://tinyurl.com/42efnod