Photo of the day:
So for today
I follow Susan Kane, a witty retired school teacher, and former farm
girl. She is a good writer in her own rite:
http://thecontemplativecat.blogspot.com/2024/01/showing-respect-to-flag-and-pledge.html.
After reading her post above
She included some good graphics with ‘When the Music Stopped’, I had to research it and found it in public
domain and at a Blog called ‘Off Base’
lead by a lady named Bobbie O’Brian, a blog that interacts between
military and the civilian community. I was so impressed I wanted to reprint the
whole story. It happened in 2007 -----
What Happened When the Music Stopped in Iraq
Posted on April 10, 2011 by
Bobbie O'Brien
A fellow journalist
shared the story below. According to Truth or Fiction.com, it is a true story that
dates back to May 2007. The words are from Army Reserve Chaplain Jim Higgins
written when he was deployed. It’s an apt entry for a Sunday.
(For those who
are unaware: At all military base theaters, the National Anthem is played
before the movie begins.) As is the custom at all military bases, we
stood at attention when it played before the main feature film began.
This is
written by a Chaplain in Iraq :
I recently attended a
showing of ‘Superman 3’ here at LSA Anaconda. We have a large
auditorium that we use for movies as well as memorial services and
other large gatherings.
Now, what would happen
if this occurred with 1,000 18-to-22-year-olds back in the States?
I imagine that there would be hoots, catcalls, laughter, a few rude
comments, and everyone would sit down and yell for the movie to
begin. Of course, that is, only if they had stood for The
National Anthem in the first place.
Here in Iraq
1,000 soldiers continued to stand at attention, eyes fixed forward.
The music started again, and the soldiers continued to quietly stand at
attention. Again, though, at the same point, the music
stopped. What would you expect 1,000 soldiers standing at attention to
do?? Frankly, I expected some laughter, and everyone would
eventually sit down and wait for the movie to start.
No!!. . . You
could have heard a pin drop while every soldier continued to
stand at attention.
Suddenly, there was a
lone voice from the front of the auditorium. Then a dozen voices,
and soon the room was filled with the voices of a thousand soldiers,
finishing where the recording left off:
It was the most
inspiring moment I have had in Iraq , and I wanted you to know what kind
of U.S. Soldiers are serving you! Remember them as they fight
for us!
Written by Chaplain
Jim Higgins, LSA Anaconda is at the Ballad Airport in Iraq , north
of Baghdad.
I still stand at attention for the Flag and the Anthem. They represent
a country that I dearly love. I still
shed a tear for those who served, and for those who gave all. God Bless America!
Nite Shipslog
PS:
Thank all of you that
read here. I enjoy comments and appreciate it when I read them.
5 comments:
I am very proud of our flag and our anthem and will always stand at attention for them. How great those men finished the music. May it never stop!
I am VERY PROUD AND THANKFUL for my country!
This is such an amazing account; I'm glad Chaplin Higgins made the time to write it ... and you, in turn, to share.
Proud to be an American!
It is so good to be proud of one's country.
God bless you all.
Standing for our flag and singing the anthem always brings a few tears to my eyes.
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