Life Altering Moments
Sun Dec 07, 2008 10:04 pm
Each of us has, throughout our lives, life altering moments. For many it is the common things such as marriage, a child being born, or a death. I had one of those life altering moments today but it doesn't fall into those categories.
I was in the Orlando airport today heading home. There is apparently a conference for injured veterans in the Orlando area starting tomorrow. Many of the veterans, some of them injured, were coming into the airport as me and my family were getting ready to leave. I was fortunate enough to be able to greet some of these injured veterans. There were a lot of people there cheering and clapping and handing out flags.
My daughter is five and my son is two. They are too young to truly understand, but I did my best to use it as an educational opportunity. Truth is that it opened my eyes.
Several of the vets were in tough physical condition. One had been burned, one had lost an arm. Several other had clearly visibile injuries. The last man to make his way down this gauntlet of cheering appreciative Americans was a double leg amputee, above the knee. He appeared to be in pretty good shape otherwise. He had what I, someone who is uneducated in prothesis, would call makeshift legs. They were clunky looking and with, for lack of a better word, paddles for feet. The veteran was able to walk but it was cleary a chore. As he made his way down through this crowd he was shaking hands. And smiling. I decided I needed to tell him thank you.
As he got closer to me I bent over (I'm 6'3 so I was considerably taller than him) to shake his hand. I grabbed his hand, looked him straight in the eye, and said the only thing that I've been able to come up with that describes my appreciation for all vets. I told him "Thank you for my freedom." This hero, and I am one who doesn't like the term thrown around, did not say you're welcome. He didn't flinch or hesitate and said to me, almost knowing what I felt, that "I would do it all over again."
What a man. What a country. Here this man who has clearly had his life turned upside down and has the inner strength to look back and accept his situation. Not only accept it, but to not want to change a thing. He has not allowed his injuries to be a life altering moment for him.
I don't know his name. I don't know what branch he served in. I don't know where he served or the circumstances of his injuries. What I do know is that I met someone special today and he has impacted me more than he'll ever know.
Thank you soldier.
Chuck
I was in the Orlando airport today heading home. There is apparently a conference for injured veterans in the Orlando area starting tomorrow. Many of the veterans, some of them injured, were coming into the airport as me and my family were getting ready to leave. I was fortunate enough to be able to greet some of these injured veterans. There were a lot of people there cheering and clapping and handing out flags.
My daughter is five and my son is two. They are too young to truly understand, but I did my best to use it as an educational opportunity. Truth is that it opened my eyes.
Several of the vets were in tough physical condition. One had been burned, one had lost an arm. Several other had clearly visibile injuries. The last man to make his way down this gauntlet of cheering appreciative Americans was a double leg amputee, above the knee. He appeared to be in pretty good shape otherwise. He had what I, someone who is uneducated in prothesis, would call makeshift legs. They were clunky looking and with, for lack of a better word, paddles for feet. The veteran was able to walk but it was cleary a chore. As he made his way down through this crowd he was shaking hands. And smiling. I decided I needed to tell him thank you.
As he got closer to me I bent over (I'm 6'3 so I was considerably taller than him) to shake his hand. I grabbed his hand, looked him straight in the eye, and said the only thing that I've been able to come up with that describes my appreciation for all vets. I told him "Thank you for my freedom." This hero, and I am one who doesn't like the term thrown around, did not say you're welcome. He didn't flinch or hesitate and said to me, almost knowing what I felt, that "I would do it all over again."
What a man. What a country. Here this man who has clearly had his life turned upside down and has the inner strength to look back and accept his situation. Not only accept it, but to not want to change a thing. He has not allowed his injuries to be a life altering moment for him.
I don't know his name. I don't know what branch he served in. I don't know where he served or the circumstances of his injuries. What I do know is that I met someone special today and he has impacted me more than he'll ever know.
Thank you soldier.
Chuck
Sun Dec 07, 2008 10:30 pm
+1 to the above --
and thank YOU for speaking for many of us who have not had the opportunity to say personally to a vet how much we appreciate their very real sacrifices.
and thank YOU for speaking for many of us who have not had the opportunity to say personally to a vet how much we appreciate their very real sacrifices.
Mon Dec 08, 2008 12:09 am
+1 is not enough,
+100000
+100000
Vets
Mon Dec 08, 2008 12:22 am
We should never pass up the opportunity to thank these fine Americans for their service.
Thanks for our freedom
Mon Dec 08, 2008 7:26 am
I never pass up an opportunity to say thanks. I feel it's everyone duty to do so. Our young need to be taught this as well. Thanks to all Vets. I live Free
Mon Dec 08, 2008 7:48 am
a nice story. the wars in iraq & afganistan, while bungled & mismanaged to some degrees is irrelevant to my experience coming home from a trip where an iraq veteran flew to cleveland, but in the cargo hold as a fatality. upon landing & getting to the gate it was announced by the flight attendant that he was aboard. the regular passengers were asked to wait to deplane upon unloading of the casualty to a full honor guard. all passengers huddled on the right side of the plane looking out the window. all i could hear were sniffles. upon getting off the plane at the gate stood another couple hundred people all standing & watching the sad but honorable cerimony in utter silence & sniffles. the wars, while a subject for anger among u.s. citizens is one thing, but it is quite evident that support for the troops is their with americans.
Mon Dec 08, 2008 8:28 am
Thank you for your story. Indeed we are seeing a lot of that these days. It is a tribute to the medics in the field, dust-off crews and field hospitals that many more of our wounded vets do come home. We CANNOT forget and we MUST support them. The vet rehab centers are swamped these days. Remember them in your prayers and volunteer at them if you can.
Being the father of a child missing a limb, this kind of thing really hits home. Limbs can have mechanical work-arounds, and shortcomings. It is the brain injuries that sadden me most. Families have their child home, but the daily struggle is tragic. Politicians playing politics with budgets for troops gear and support really IRK me. Irk is the only word I could think of that wouldn't get me banned from the board!
Being the father of a child missing a limb, this kind of thing really hits home. Limbs can have mechanical work-arounds, and shortcomings. It is the brain injuries that sadden me most. Families have their child home, but the daily struggle is tragic. Politicians playing politics with budgets for troops gear and support really IRK me. Irk is the only word I could think of that wouldn't get me banned from the board!
Mon Dec 08, 2008 8:56 am
Never enough Thanks can be made for those that give ultimately without ever asking.
May we all be protected from cradle to grave by their most gracious gift.
Thank you.
Shay
____________
Semper Fortis
May we all be protected from cradle to grave by their most gracious gift.
Thank you.
Shay
____________
Semper Fortis
Mon Dec 08, 2008 2:42 pm
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/loc ... 3638.story
My hero has a name. Matt Lammers. I guess I missed it when I met him that he was also missing his left arm.
My hero has a name. Matt Lammers. I guess I missed it when I met him that he was also missing his left arm.
Change
Mon Dec 08, 2008 3:06 pm
Chuck, obviously a very heart felt emotion for you and many other. On the way back from Oshkosh we stopped at an FBO and there was a military honor guard there for a funeral for a young man just killed over there.
So I and many others will grieve when we see such sacrifice and suffering. But I AND MANY OTHERS, are going to try to do more. You say he would do it again and not want to change a thing. I AND MANY OTHERS see our young men and now even women as a PRECIOUS commodity and not to be wasted whether it is their limbs or sight or their lives. AND I AND MANY OTHERS will work to end this and not let it happen again with so little just cause.
One other point, even if we disagree on the cause, if you believe the party line and I don't, these people that we sent in our name are going to need lifetime care. That is the least we can do for them and first class care, whatever the cost. I am lucky enough that my Sons, 23 and 25 are not one of the many who have suffered.
So I and many others will grieve when we see such sacrifice and suffering. But I AND MANY OTHERS, are going to try to do more. You say he would do it again and not want to change a thing. I AND MANY OTHERS see our young men and now even women as a PRECIOUS commodity and not to be wasted whether it is their limbs or sight or their lives. AND I AND MANY OTHERS will work to end this and not let it happen again with so little just cause.
One other point, even if we disagree on the cause, if you believe the party line and I don't, these people that we sent in our name are going to need lifetime care. That is the least we can do for them and first class care, whatever the cost. I am lucky enough that my Sons, 23 and 25 are not one of the many who have suffered.
Mon Dec 08, 2008 3:21 pm
Bill-
When I posted this I almost added a disclaimer that this is not about whether we should or should not be there. The fact is that we are there and we need to support our troops. My experience yesteday was one that I will never forget. It is also one I wish that no other soldier or civilian in our Country or any other should ever have to go through.
Chuck
When I posted this I almost added a disclaimer that this is not about whether we should or should not be there. The fact is that we are there and we need to support our troops. My experience yesteday was one that I will never forget. It is also one I wish that no other soldier or civilian in our Country or any other should ever have to go through.
Chuck
Mon Dec 08, 2008 3:21 pm
That is humbling... Thank you.
As if that weren't bad enough for this young man, his wife divorced him? WTF?
As if that weren't bad enough for this young man, his wife divorced him? WTF?