Powerful, I had to pass this on
I got this in an email today. I thought it spoke volumes and had the need to share it, after my eyes dried. Thank you to all my veteran friends.
>
> A great belated veteran's day message!!
>
> As I came out of the supermarket that sunny day,
> pushing my cart of groceries towards my car,
> I saw an old man with the hood of his car up
> and a lady sitting inside the car, with the door
> open.
>
> The old man was looking at the engine.
> I put my groceries away in my car, and
> continued to watch the old gentleman from
> about twenty five feet away.
>
> I saw a young man in his early twenties with
> a grocery bag in his arm walking towards
> the old man. The old gentleman saw him
> coming too, and took a few steps towards him.
>
> I saw the old gentleman point to his open hood
> and say something. The young man put his
> grocery bag into what looked like a brand new
> Cadillac Escalade. He then turned back to the
> old man. I heard him yell at the old gentleman
> saying:
>
> "You shouldn't even be allowed to drive a car at
> your age." And then with a wave of his hand,
> he got in his car and peeled rubber out of the
> parking lot.
>
> I saw the old gentleman pull out his handkerchief,
> and mop his brow as he went back to his car and
> again looked at the engine.
>
> He then went to his wife and spoke with her;
> he appeared to tell her it would be okay.
> I had seen enough, and I approached the old man.
> He saw me coming and stood straight, and as
> I got near him I said, 'Looks like you're having
> a problem.'
>
> He smiled sheepishly, and quietly nodded his head.
> I looked under the hood myself, and knew that
> whatever the problem was, it was beyond me.
> Looking around, I saw a gas station up the road,
> and I told the old man that I would be right back.
> I drove to the station and I went inside. I saw three attendants working on cars. I approached one of
> them, and related the problem the old man had
> with his car. I offered to pay them if they could
> follow me back down and help him.
>
> The old man had pushed the heavy car under the
> shade of a tree and appeared to be comforting
> his wife When he saw us he straightened up and
> thanked me for my help. As the mechanics
> diagnosed the problem (overheated engine),
> I spoke with the old gentleman.
>
> When I shook hands with him earlier, he had
> noticed my Marine Corps ring and had commented
> about it, telling me that he had been a Marine too. I nodded and asked the usual question,
> 'What outfit did you serve with?'
>
> He had mentioned that he served with the first
> Marine Division at Tarawa, Saipan, Iwo Jima and Guadalcanal ...
>
> He had hit all the big ones and retired from the
> Corps after the war was over. As we talked we
> heard the car engine come on and saw the
> mechanics lower the hood. They came over to
> us as the old man reached for his wallet, but
> was stopped by me. I told him I would just put
> the bill on my AAA
> card.
>
> He still reached for the wallet and handed me a
> card that I assumed had his name and address
> on it and I stuck it in my pocket. We shook hands
> all around again, and I said my goodbye's to
> his wife.
>
> I then told the two mechanics that I would follow
> them back up to the station. Once at the station,
> I told them that they had interrupted their own
> jobs to come along with me and help the old man.
> I said I wanted to pay for the help, but they
> refused to charge me.
>
> One of them pulled out a card from his pocket,
> looking exactly like the card the old man had
> given to me. Both of the men told me then that
> they were Marine Corps Reserves. Once again
> we shook hands all around and as I was leaving,
> one of them told me I should look at the card
> the old man had given to me. I said I would and
> drove off.
>
> For some reason I had gone about two blocks,
> when I pulled over and took the card out of my
> pocket and looked at it for a long, long time.
> The name of the old gentleman was on the
> card in golden leaf and under his name was written: 'Congressional Medal of Honor Society.'
>
> I sat there motionless, looking at the card and
> reading it over and over. I looked up from the
> card and smiled to no one but myself and
> marveled that on this day, four Marines had all
> come together because one of us needed help.
> He was an old man all right, but it felt good to
> have stood next to greatness and courage,
> and an honor to have been in his presence.
> Remember, OLD men like him gave you
> FREEDOM for America. Thanks to those who
> served and still serve, and to all of those who
> supported them, and who continue to support
> them.
>
> America is not at war. The U.S. Military is at war. America is at the Mall.
> If you don't stand behind our troops,
> PLEASE feel free to stand in front of them!
> Remember, Freedom IS NOT free.
> Thousands have paid the price, so you
> can enjoy what you have today.
> LET'S DO THIS - JUST 19
> WORDS:
> GOD OUR FATHER, WALK THROUGH MY
> HOUSE AND TAKE AWAY ALL MY WORRIES;
> AND PLEASE WATCH OVER AND HEAL MY
> FAMILY; AND PLEASE PROTECT OUR
> FREEDOMS, AND WATCH OVER OUR TROOPS,
> ‘WHO ARE DEFENDING THOSE FREEDOMS.
> AMEN.
>
> This prayer is so powerful.
