May is National Military Appreciation Month.
Though not directly related to the campaign of Fred Thompson, I think Fred would approve of including this message. With the message of defeat and surrender that the Democrat “leaders” are intent on sending, it is more important than ever that we send a different message to those that have put their lives on the line for us.
It is very easy to express a feeling that you “Support the Troops”, but with just a little more effort you can demonstrate a real support that will be heard and felt by those who now desperately need it.
As an example, I include one of my favorite “Support” stories.
Three years ago a young girl, Shauna Fleming, started a program called “A Million Thanks” as part of a high school project. She started the program to encourage Americans to write letters of appreciation to our soldiers, and to help facilitate the delivery of those letters. Shauna will be graduating this year and moving on to college. Her humble high school project has grown to national prominence and has delivered many well earned thanks to our troops. A Million Thanks
The efforts of this young girl demonstrate what can be accomplished with a simple idea and a passion to implement that idea. Please take some time out of your day to visit her site and some of the other military support links. If you take the time to offer real support for the troops you will not only make their day a little better, but you will also greatly improve your day.
On the “Ohio 4 Fred” site I have included links to many other sites that offer different ways to show real support for the troops.
Ohio4Fred Honor Our Military
Thank you,
Tim
……and sincere thanks to our troops.
Entries (RSS)
May 13th, 2007 at 6:37 pm
I was traveling through the outskirts of Hillsborough, NC. At one o’clock in the afternoon I wanted a cup of coffee and some breakfast. I enjoy the homey atmosphere of the Cracker Barrel chain. It’s food like Mama used to cook and breakfast is served all day long. Luckily for me this one was nearby one of the State Historic Sites I hoped to visit. I parked the car and as I was approaching the large front porch lined with $179.00 rocking chairs I heard a voice over the loud speaker say, “… family of 7… you’re table is ready.” I didn’t arrive in time to catch the name of the family. Just that there were 7 of them and their table was ready.
Zig zagging through the sales floor I was quickly greeted by my hostess, LaShannon who asked, “How ya’ll doin’ today?” She must assume I am with the group of folks standing behind me, I thought, replying, “Just me please”and was promptly seated in the smoking section.
Like I said, I grew up on Cracker Barrel. I don’t get impressed by the wall art and cabin-like charm anymore but I also thought little of the solider in desert BDU’s seated nearby. I guess it’s because I see them all the time. However, Hillsborough isn’t nearby any Army base I’m aware of.
I knew exactly what I wanted to eat and drink so I sat studying my road atlas not the menu when the waitress came by and said, “I’ll be right with you”. Adjusting my glasses, I replied, “Take your time.”
She instinctively brought a cup to my table and didn’t even ask if I wanted any cream as she poured. It was as if Virginia and I were already aquainted. Shortly afterwards she began delivering food to the other table. Sadly, I had to tell her what I wanted to eat. Next time I saw her she was going around refilling drinks at all of her tables. I looked up to thank her just as an elderly man passed by and overheard that same man strike up a conversation with the solider. Virginia brought my eggs and bacon right away. Amidst the chatter between waitresses I heard the solider say, “I’m on leave going back to Iraq.” and the elderly man say, “I’d like to support you anyway I can.”
I’m buttering my biscuts and this solider is headed back to war. I’m sipping coffee at a leisurely pace and the old man is shaking hands with a guy in BDU’s.
Next time I see Virginia she’s telling the solider his tab has been paid. Not just his, the whole table! He was touched. His wife was tearing up. I was tearing up.
When they’d finished their meal two young men got up and hugged the solider saying “We’ll see you at 5 then.” They then kissed their mother. Seconds later the solider and his wife left the dining room calling out to their 3 younger boys, “Take a hand!”
While Virginia was collecting her tip from this large table I asked her how much was his bill? She said, “$42.00. Wasn’t it nice of that man to do that? I mean he’s out there keeping it off our shores… for us and for his 5 boys… I just think that’s the nicest thing and wish more people would show their appreciation to the one’s who are sticking their necks out for us.”
Though there were 3 cashiers on the salesfloor the line moved slowly and I found myself is the mood to spend. By the time I got to my cashier I had 2 lbs. of walnut fudge and Bert’s Bee’s lip balm to add to my bill. I asked my cashier which one of them got the pleasure to ring up the solider’s bill for the old guy? He didn’t seem to know what I was talking about. I repeated myself using the word, hero and sounding surprised my cashier said, “Oh, he was a hero?” I was struggling for exact change and began to wonder myself if the cashier and I were discussing the solider or the old man that paid his tab. “Aren’t they all?”, I asked. He didn’t seem to know where I was going with it. So I clarified… “He leaves behind five sons and a wife, I think that’s pretty heroic.”
I wanna think that old guy was somebody’s grandfather who, but for a minute, proudly carried the “hero” on his shoulders under a city scape drizzled in red, white and blue ticker-tape. I want to think that I just didn’t sit down to eat today but that I was inspired by another’s generosity to spend a little more and help infuse the economy.
1 solider plus his wife and 5 boys equals 7…. America your table is ready!
Lorrie
May 13th, 2007 at 6:39 pm
Tim,
I’m having difficulty navigating your site. Please feel free to remove or re-locate this story.
Sincerely,
Lorrie
May 13th, 2007 at 8:09 pm
Lorrie,
Thank you for that story. It is nice to hear of someone willing to go out of their way to show appreciation for the sacrifices that our soldiers and their families make every day.
Even if it is just a hand shake and a thank you, we should always make the extra effort to show our gratitude to those that risk all to protect our freedoms.
Thanks,
Tim
May 13th, 2007 at 8:20 pm
Lorrie,
Regarding the navigation of the site:
I just loaded the final design of the site last week and have been working to try to put things back together. Sorry for any confusion during this “construction” phase. Your comment did end up right where it belonged. I realize that things may be a little confusing at times, and I welcome any suggestions or constructive criticism.
I will be making a post soon regarding the site design, and hope to get some suggestions for improving things.