From a Chaplain
Posted by Warren Enos on 20 Feb 2008 | Tagged as: Email worth reading
OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM IN IRAQ
For those of us who are unaware, at a military theater, the National Anthem is played before every movie.
I recently attended a showing of “Superman 3,” here at LSA Anaconda. We have a large auditorium we use for movies, as well as memorial services and other large gatherings.
As is the custom back in the States, we stood and snapped to attention when the National Anthem began before the main feature. all was going as planned until about three-quarters of the way through The National Anthem the music stopped.
Now, what would happen if this occurred with 1,000 18-22 year-olds back in the States? I imagine there would be hoots, catcalls, laughter, a few rude comments and everyone would sit down and call for a movie. Of course, that is, if they had stood for the National Anthem in the first place.
Here, the 1,000 Soldiers continued to stand at attention, eyes fixed forward. The music started again. The Soldiers continued to quietly stand at attention. And again, at the same point, the music stopped.
What would you expect to happen? Even here I would imagine laughter, as everyone finally sat down and expected the movie to start. But here, you could have heard a pin drop. Every soldier continued to stand at attention.
Suddenly there was a lone voice, Then a dozen, and quickly the room was filled with the voices of a thousand soldiers, finishing where the recording left off:
“And the rockets red glare,
The bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night
That our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave, O’er
The land of the free And the home of the brave?”
It was the most inspiring moment I have had here in Iraq. I wanted you to know what kind of soldiers are serving you here. Remember them as they fight for you! Pass this along as a reminder to others to be ever in prayer for all our soldiers serving us here at home and abroad..
For many have already paid the ultimate price……
Chaplain Jim Higgins
LSA Anaconda, Balad Airport
North of Baghdad, Iraq
Submitted By: Roger Flocken
One Response to “From a Chaplain”
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Thanks Roger. A great scenario of our today’s valiant patriotic soldiers. Reading it here is important but it’s only preaching to the choir. Definitely we have a dedicated military engaged in this War, but seemingly not our Nations populace, except for a pretty general showing of visual & verbal support to those in harms way. Messages with content like this should be utilized by all Veterans Organizations to get the substance published Nationwide in local Letters to the Editor, which is undoubtedly the best way to impact our Nations reading and concerned populace.