(Thanks Dan)
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 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 goodbyes 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 our 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 PRAY 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.
