May 20, 2009

Unknown Author

Last week I was in Atlanta, Georgia attending a conference.  While I was in the airport, returning home, I heard several people behind me beginning to clap and cheer.  I immediately turned around and witnessed one of the greatest acts of patriotism I have ever seen.

Moving through the terminal was a group of Marines, in their camouflage fatigues, and as they began heading to their gate everyone (well almost everyone) stood to applaud these men and women.  When I saw the Marines, probably 30-40 of them, being applauded and cheered for, it hit me.  I'm not alone.  I'm not the only red blooded American who still loves this country and supports our troops and their families.

Of course I immediately stopped and began clapping for these young men and women who are putting their lives on the line everyday for us so we can go to school, work and home without fear or reprisal.  Just when I thought I could not be more proud of these men and women a young girl, not more than 6 or 7 years old ran up to one of the Marines.  He kneeled down and said "hi," the little girl then she asked him if he would give something to her daddy from her.  The young Marine, who didn't look much older than twenty, said he would try and then asked what she wanted him to give her daddy.  The little girl grabbed the neck of this Marine, gave him the biggest hug she could muster and then kissed him on the cheek.

The mother of the little girl, who said her daughter's name was Courtney, told the young Marine that her husband was a Marine and had been in Iraq for 11 months.  As the mom was explaining how much her daughter, Courtney, missed her father, the young Marine began to tear up.  When Courtney's mom was done explaining her situation, all of the Marines huddled together for a brief second.  Then one of the other pulled out a military looking walkie-talkie.  They started playing with the device and talking back and forth on it.

After a while the young Marine walked back over to Courtney, bent down and said this to her, "I spoke to your daddy and he told me to give this to you."  He then hugged this little girl that he had just met and gave her a kiss on the cheek.  He finished by saying "your daddy told me to tell you that he loves you more than anything and he is coming home very soon."

The mom at this point was crying almost uncontrollably and as the Marine stood to his feet he saluted Courtney and her mom. I was standing no more than 6 feet away from this entire event unfolded. As the Marines began to leave, heading towards their gate, people resumed their applause. As I stood there applauding and looked around, there were very few dry eyes, including my own. That Marine in one last act of selflessness turned around and blew a kiss to Courtney with a tear rolling down his cheek.

We need to remember everyday all of our soldiers and their families and thank God for them and their sacrifices. At the end of the day, it's good to be an American.

I am a Marine, have been since graduation from Boot Camp in 1969, and I will always be a Marine.   I saw this story and thought about the little girl and the distance that separated her from her father.  Not so much in miles but in the everyday happenings in the life of little girls and boys.  The events in the life of a child that the parent, who is away, will never make up or may never know about.  When my daughter was born I had a job where I traveled every week.  I will never make up those events in her life that I missed.   I can't imagine being away from a young child on an extended tour of duty, serving my country.  

                    I am still proud of being a Marine.  Every year on the third Saturday of May we celebrate Armed Forces Day.  President Harry S. Truman led the effort to establish a single holiday for citizens to come together and thank our military members for their patriotic service in support of our country.

On August 31, 1949, Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the creation of an Armed Forces Day to replace separate Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force Days. The single-day celebration stemmed from the unification of the Armed Forces under one department -- the Department of Defense.  That's the short history of Armed Forces Day, being thankful for those who serve their country.  

There are men and women who leave families, whose job it is to stand in "Harm's Way" and put their lives on the line for their children, their families back home and for the rest of us back here.  Some come home less than who they were when the left.  Some come home only as a memory in the someone's life .  

Alex Oakman, one of our Youth Group members, has made the decision to join the Marine Corp, to become one of those who serve their country.  On one hand I honor his decision and on the other hand I'm scared, scared of the possibility of him becoming a memory in my mind.  Cassie Jones enlisted in the Navy in 2007 and is serving onboard the USS Ronald Reagan, (CVN-76).  I also honor Cassie decision to join the Navy but again I have some scare.  I do not like listening to daily causality reports on the news or hearing about how the rate of PTSD, Posttraumatic stress disorder, is growing among the men and women who have fought in Iraq, Pakistan, or Afghanistan.

PTSD and the Military

If you are in the military, you may have seen combat. You may have been on missions that exposed you to horrible and life-threatening experiences. You may have been shot at, seen a buddy shot, or seen death. These are types of events that can lead to PTSD.

Experts think PTSD occurs:

• In about 30% of Vietnam veterans, or about 30 out of 100 Vietnam veterans.
• In as many as 10% of Gulf War (Desert Storm) veterans, or in 10 veterans out of 100.9
• In about 6% to 11% of veterans of the Afghanistan war (Enduring Freedom), or in 6 to 11 veterans out of 100.
• In about 12% to 20% of veterans of the Iraq war (Iraqi Freedom), or in 12 to 20 veterans out of 100.

Other factors in a combat situation can add more stress to an already stressful situation and may contribute to PTSD and other mental health problems. These factors include what you do in the war, the politics around the war, where it's fought, and the type of enemy you face.
http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/

                      What I want for Alex and Cassie is to support them in their decision and to let them know I'm praying for them.  To stand when I hear the Navy and Marine Corp Hymns played, honoring them for their service.

                      In his speech to the opening session of the United Nations Conference on International Organization in San Francisco on April 25, 1945, President Harry Truman said this:

We must not continue to sacrifice the flower of our youth merely to check madmen, those who in every age plan world domination. The sacrifices of our youth today must lead, through your efforts, to the building for tomorrow of a mighty combination of nations founded upon justice for peace.