Another Sandstorm Maker

[lcpd24]

Got this from Catman, thanks Catman, pretty long but thought you all would like the first part---

>
> >> >
> >> >Will You Give This To My Daddy?
> >> >
> >> >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 act's of
> patriotism I have ever
> >>seen.
> >> >
> >> >Moving thru the terminal was a group of
> soldiers in their camo's,
> >>as
> >> >they began heading to their gate everyone
> (well almost everyone)
> >>was
> >> >abruptly to their feet with their hands waving
> and cheering. When
> >>I
> >> >saw the soldiers, 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
> >> >unsung heroes 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 my
> country or of our
> >>service
> >> >men and women a young girl, not more than 6 or
> 7 years
> >> >old, ran up to one of
> >>the male soldiers. He kneeled down and said
> >> >"hi." The little girl then asked him if he
> would give something
> >>to her
> >> >daddy
> >> >for her. The young soldier--he didn't look any
> older than maybe
> >>22
> >> >himself--said he would try, and what did she
> want to give to her
> >>daddy?
> >> >
> >> >Then suddenly the little girl grabbed the neck
> of this soldier,
> >>gave
> >> >him the biggest hug she could muster and then
> kissed him on the
> >>cheek.
> >> >The mother of the little girl, who said her
> daughters name was
> >> >Courtney, told the young soldier that her
> husband was a
> >> >Marine and had been in Iraq for 11 months now.
> As the mom was
> >>explaining
> >> >how much her daughter, Courtney, missed her
> father, the young
> >>soldier
> >> >began to tear up.
> >> >
> >> >When this temporarily single mom was done
> explaining her
> >> >situation, all of the soldiers huddled
> together for a
> >>brief second.
> >> >Then one of the other servicemen pulled out a
> military looking
> >> >walkie-talkie. They started playing with the
> device and talking
> >>back and
> >> >forth
> >> >on it. After about 10-15 seconds of this, the
> young soldier
> >>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 young soldier stood
> to his feet he
> >>saluted
> >> >Courtney and
> >> >her mom. I was standing no more than 6 feet
> away from this entire
> >> >event as it unfolded.
> >> >
> >> >As the soldiers
> >>began to leave, heading towards their gate,
> people
> >> >resumed their applause. As I stood there
> applauding and looked
> >> >around, their were very few dry eyes,
> including my own.
> >> >
> >> >That young soldier 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.

[Jerry D]

pretty good stuff there

[VIETNAM 1968]

A really beautiful post Dennis. Thanks for sharing and reminding me just how great it is to have the priviledge of living in this great country of ours. Bless all of our Military Veterans as they head into HARMS WAY to protect the rest of us.

Damn those Sandstorms. Just when I think I have them under control another one irritates my eyes even more then before. I guess I will have to wear those DARK GLASSES shown above constantly, so that others will not see my red and irritated eyes.

To all of my Vietnam Veteran Brothers and Sisters I wish you all a most sincere:


WELCOME HOME:


VIETNAM 1968