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Date Posted: 23:14:18 05/25/12 Fri
Author: usmgrad :)
Subject: This week on JAG

No episode photos this week, instead Harm honors those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their country.

Memorial Day

A poem by C W Johnson

We walked among the crosses, where our fallen soldiers lay.
And listened to the bugle as TAPS began to play.
The Chaplin led a prayer, we stood with heads bowed low.
And I thought of fallen comrades, I had known so long ago.
They came from every city across this fertile land.
That we might live in freedom. They lie here 'neath the sand.
I felt a little guilty my sacrifice was small.
I only lost a little time but these men lost their all.
Now the services are over for this Memorial Day.
To the names upon these crosses I just want to say,
Thanks for what you've given no one could ask for more.
May you rest with God in heaven from now through evermore.

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Replies:

[> Beautiful poem. Thanks for posting it, usmgrad. -- Lee, 10:25:49 05/26/12 Sat

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[> I received this in an e-mail and thought it would be appropriate to share it here. Inside... -- Lee, 10:46:30 05/26/12 Sat

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 that it would be okay. I had seen enough and I approached the old man. He saw me coming and stood straight. 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 went inside. I saw three attendants working on cars. I approached one of them and related the problem that the old man was having with his car. I offered to pay them if they would follow me back to the grocery store 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'd shaken hands with him earlier, he'd 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 said that he'd served with the first Marine Division at Guadalcanal, Pelieliu and Okinawa.

He had hit three of the worst ones and had retired from the Corps after the war was over. As we talked, we heard the car engine come to life and saw the mechanics lower the hood. They came over to us as the old man reached for his wallet, but I stopped him. I told him that 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 all 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 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 that 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 that the old man had given 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 that I should look at the card that the old man had given to me. I said that 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, as we approach another Memorial Day, OLD men like him gave you and all of us 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 isn't Free. Thousands have paid the price so that you can enjoy what you have today.

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[> [> WOW! What a wonderful and giving story. Luckily, my family did not loose anyone in any of the wars, but friends, and friends of friends, tell of their losses to wars. For the sacrifices, we thank all of those who have and do, protect and defend. -- carramor, 11:25:23 05/26/12 Sat

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[> [> [> Lee, thank you for sharing. -- carramor, 11:26:38 05/26/12 Sat

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[> [> [> Would like to share an experience and idea in this mode -- inside. -- carramor, 11:51:44 05/26/12 Sat

Several years ago, I witnessed an older couple paying the tab at a restaurant for several uniformed men and women as a way of thanking them for their service. I was so impressed that I have done the same several times and I cannot tell you the warm, wonderful feeling I get when being thanked by them for thinking of them (have even been thanked for my 'thoughtfulness' by the servers)! (Am honestly not bragging, but thought this might be a good place to pass along this idea.)

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[> That was a beautiful and moving poem, but I have to admit I was a little distracted by the name of the author. It gave the thoughts that were totally inappropriate given the subject matter. ;-) -- JJ (Ronda), 21:36:45 05/26/12 Sat

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[> [> Well, we know where your mind was, JJ (Rhonda). : ) -- Lee, 00:32:02 05/27/12 Sun

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[> [> [> I must be getting old, I didn't even notice that until you mentioned it -- usmgrad, 09:11:25 05/27/12 Sun

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[> Beautiful Poem. Had to steal it and send it out in my email. -- Cathy F., 11:31:19 05/27/12 Sun

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[> [> Good idea, Cathy F. I think I'll do that, too. : ) -- Lee, 13:38:02 05/27/12 Sun

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[> [> Found it at http://www.thememorialdaytribute.com/memorial-day-poems/index.html -- usmgrad, 16:08:28 05/27/12 Sun

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[> Very moving. Thank you! -- mj, 15:31:12 05/27/12 Sun

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[> While watching old war movies yesterday, I pondered on how many times we saw H and his possee actually salute........just curious. -- carramor, 22:04:51 05/27/12 Sun

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