I never do this. not ever. I always get emails about silly virus scares, and pass this to ten people and get rich, have good sex, and marry a super model in 5 days. I delete them all without a second thought.
I also always get the emails that say "say a prayer for our troops" or "support our troops" or something about living in crappy conditions and how we should be thankful for what we have. I normally delete those too, because I don't want to be reminded how much this sucks and I miss Janet and my family, and also because I don't feel it's right for me, currently serving, to pass emails saying the above... I'm by no means "quiet", but I like to think of myself as a "modest" professional. if you feel it's something you should do, that's ok. just not for me at this point in my life.
But I got this email today and my hair stood on end. I decided to post it here because more people post here than anywhere else, and, I think this is THAT important. here it is.
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Subject: Fw: Memorial Service: you're invited.
We're hearing a lot today about big splashy memorial services.
I want a nationwide memorial service for Darrell "Shifty" Powers.
Shifty volunteered for the airborne in WWII and served with Easy Company
of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, part of the 101st Airborne
Infantry. If you've seen Band of Brothers on HBO or the History Channel,
you know Shifty. His character appears in all 10 episodes, and Shifty
himself is interviewed in several of them.
I met Shifty in the Philadelphia airport several years ago. I didn't
know who he was at the time. I just saw an elderly gentleman having
trouble reading his ticket. I offered to help, assured him that he was
at the right gate, and noticed the "Screaming Eagle", the symbol of the
101st Airborne, on his hat.
Making conversation, I asked him if he'd been in the 101st Airborne or
if his son was serving. He said quietly that he had been in the 101st. I
thanked him for his service, then asked him when he served, and how many
jumps he made.
Quietly and humbly, he said "Well, I guess I signed up in 1941 or so,
and was in until sometime in 1945 . . . " at which point my heart
skipped.
At that point, again, very humbly, he said "I made the 5 training jumps
at Toccoa, and then jumped into Normandy . . . . do you know where
Normandy is?" At this point my heart stopped.
I told him yes, I know exactly where Normandy was, and I know what D-Day
was. At that point he said "I also made a second jump into Holland ,
into Arnhem ." I was standing with a genuine war hero . . . . and then I
realized that it was June, just after the anniversary of D-Day.
I asked Shifty if he was on his way back from France , and he said "Yes.
And it's real sad because these days so few of the guys are left, and
those that are, lots of them can't make the trip." My heart was in my
throat and I didn't know what to say.
I helped Shifty get onto the plane and then realized he was back in
Coach, while I was in First Class. I sent the flight attendant back to
get him and said that I wanted to switch seats. When Shifty came
forward, I got up out of the seat and told him I wanted him to have it,
that I'd take his in coach.
He said "No, son, you enjoy that seat. Just knowing that there are still
some who remember what we did and still care is enough to make an old
man very happy." His eyes were filling up as he said it. And mine are
brimming up now as I write this.
Shifty died on June 17 after fighting cancer.
There was no parade.
No big event in Staples Center .
No wall to wall back to back 24x7 news coverage.
No weeping fans on television.
And that's not right.
Let's give Shifty his own Memorial Service, online, in our own quiet
way. Please forward this email to everyone you know. Especially to the
veterans.
Rest in peace, Shifty.
"A nation without heroes is nothing."
Roberto Clemente
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
so, as my eyes start to leak a little (not sure how that happened, I think there's some sand in them), I'm just going to close this by saying thank you, Shifty. Rest in Peace, and may the Lord keep you and protect you.
"and when he gets to heaven,
to St Peter he will tell -
One more soldier reporting, Sir.
I've served my time in Hell."
with a heavy heart indeed,
Helo
I also always get the emails that say "say a prayer for our troops" or "support our troops" or something about living in crappy conditions and how we should be thankful for what we have. I normally delete those too, because I don't want to be reminded how much this sucks and I miss Janet and my family, and also because I don't feel it's right for me, currently serving, to pass emails saying the above... I'm by no means "quiet", but I like to think of myself as a "modest" professional. if you feel it's something you should do, that's ok. just not for me at this point in my life.
But I got this email today and my hair stood on end. I decided to post it here because more people post here than anywhere else, and, I think this is THAT important. here it is.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: Fw: Memorial Service: you're invited.
We're hearing a lot today about big splashy memorial services.
I want a nationwide memorial service for Darrell "Shifty" Powers.
Shifty volunteered for the airborne in WWII and served with Easy Company
of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, part of the 101st Airborne
Infantry. If you've seen Band of Brothers on HBO or the History Channel,
you know Shifty. His character appears in all 10 episodes, and Shifty
himself is interviewed in several of them.
I met Shifty in the Philadelphia airport several years ago. I didn't
know who he was at the time. I just saw an elderly gentleman having
trouble reading his ticket. I offered to help, assured him that he was
at the right gate, and noticed the "Screaming Eagle", the symbol of the
101st Airborne, on his hat.
Making conversation, I asked him if he'd been in the 101st Airborne or
if his son was serving. He said quietly that he had been in the 101st. I
thanked him for his service, then asked him when he served, and how many
jumps he made.
Quietly and humbly, he said "Well, I guess I signed up in 1941 or so,
and was in until sometime in 1945 . . . " at which point my heart
skipped.
At that point, again, very humbly, he said "I made the 5 training jumps
at Toccoa, and then jumped into Normandy . . . . do you know where
Normandy is?" At this point my heart stopped.
I told him yes, I know exactly where Normandy was, and I know what D-Day
was. At that point he said "I also made a second jump into Holland ,
into Arnhem ." I was standing with a genuine war hero . . . . and then I
realized that it was June, just after the anniversary of D-Day.
I asked Shifty if he was on his way back from France , and he said "Yes.
And it's real sad because these days so few of the guys are left, and
those that are, lots of them can't make the trip." My heart was in my
throat and I didn't know what to say.
I helped Shifty get onto the plane and then realized he was back in
Coach, while I was in First Class. I sent the flight attendant back to
get him and said that I wanted to switch seats. When Shifty came
forward, I got up out of the seat and told him I wanted him to have it,
that I'd take his in coach.
He said "No, son, you enjoy that seat. Just knowing that there are still
some who remember what we did and still care is enough to make an old
man very happy." His eyes were filling up as he said it. And mine are
brimming up now as I write this.
Shifty died on June 17 after fighting cancer.
There was no parade.
No big event in Staples Center .
No wall to wall back to back 24x7 news coverage.
No weeping fans on television.
And that's not right.
Let's give Shifty his own Memorial Service, online, in our own quiet
way. Please forward this email to everyone you know. Especially to the
veterans.
Rest in peace, Shifty.
"A nation without heroes is nothing."
Roberto Clemente
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
so, as my eyes start to leak a little (not sure how that happened, I think there's some sand in them), I'm just going to close this by saying thank you, Shifty. Rest in Peace, and may the Lord keep you and protect you.
"and when he gets to heaven,
to St Peter he will tell -
One more soldier reporting, Sir.
I've served my time in Hell."
with a heavy heart indeed,
Helo
