OT - Patriotic

[Griff]

I got the following in an email a few days ago and I just now got around to reading it. Thought I'd share it with some of ya'll.

Cemetery Escort Duty
I just wanted to get the day over with and go down to Smokey's for a few cold ones.

Sneaking a look at my watch, I saw the time, 1655. Five minutes to go before the cemetery gates are closed for the day.
Full dress was hot in the August sun. Oklahoma summertime was as bad as ever -- the heat and humidity at the same level -- both too high.
I saw the car pull into the drive, '69 or '70 model Cadillac Deville, looked factory-new. It pulled into the parking lot at a snail's pace. An old woman got out so slow I thought she was paralyzed. She had a cane and a sheaf of flowers, about four or five bunches as best I could tell.
I couldn't help myself. The thought came unwanted, and left a slightly bitter taste: 'She's going to spend an hour, and for this old soldier my hip hurts like hell and I'm ready to get out of here right now!'
But for this day my duty was to assist anyone coming in.
Kevin would lock the 'In' gate and if I could hurry the old biddy along, we might make the last half of happy hour at Smokey's.
I broke Post Attention.
My hip made gritty noises when I took the first step and the pain went up a notch.
I must have made a real military sight; middle-aged man with a small pot-gut and half a limp, in Marine Full Dress Uniform, which had lost its razor crease about 30 minutes after I began the watch at the cemetery.
I stopped in front of her, halfway up the walk.
She looked up at me with an old woman's squint.
'Ma'am may I assist you in any way?'
She took long enough to answer.
'Yes, son. Can you carry these flowers? I seem to be moving a tad slow these days.'
'My pleasure Ma'am.'
Well, it wasn't too much of a lie.
She looked again. 'Marine, where were you stationed?'
'Vietnam, Ma'am. Ground-pounder. '69 to '71.'
She looked at me closer. 'Wounded in action, I see. Well done, Marine. I'll be as quick as I can.'
I lied a little bigger 'No hurry, Ma'am.'
She smiled, and winked at me.
'Son, I'm 85-years old and I can tell a lie from a long way off. Let's get this done. Might be the last time I can do this.
My name's Joanne Wieserman, and I have a few Marines I'd like to see one more time.'
'Yes, Ma'am. At your service.'
She headed for the World War I section, stopping at a stone.
She picked one of the bunches out of my arm and laid it on top of the stone.
She murmured something I couldn't quite make out.
The name on the marble was Donald S. Davidson, USMC, France 1918.
She turned away and made a straight line for the World War II section, stopping at one stone.
I saw a tear slowly tracking its way down her cheek.
She put a bunch on a stone; the name was
Stephen X. Davidson, USMC, 1943.
She went up the row a ways and laid another bunch on a stone, Stanley J. Wieserman USMC , 1944.
She paused for a second, 'Two more, son, and we'll be done'
I almost didn't say anything, but, 'Yes, Ma'am. Take your time.'
She looked confused.
'Where's the Vietnam section, son?
I seem to have lost my way.'
I pointed with my chin. 'That way, Ma'am.'
'Oh!' she chuckled quietly.
'Son, me and old age ain't too friendly.'
She headed down the walk I'd pointed at.
She stopped at a couple of stones before she found the ones she wanted.
She placed a bunch on Larry Wieserman USMC, 1968, and the last on Darrel Wieserman USMC, 1970.
She stood there and murmured a few words I still couldn't make out.
'OK, son , I'm finished.
Get me back to my car and you can go home.'
'Yes, Ma'am. If I may ask, were those your kinfolk ?'
She paused. 'Yes, Donald Davidson was my father; Stephen was my uncle; Stanley was my husband; Larry and Darrel were our sons.
All killed in action, all Marines.'
She stopped, whether she had finished, or couldn't finish, I don't know.
She made her way to her car, slowly, and painfully.
I waited for a polite distance to come between us and then double-timed it over to Kevin waiting by the car. 'Get to the 'Out'-gate quick. I have something I've got to do.'
Kevin started to say something but saw the look I gave him.
He broke the rules to get us there down the service road.
We beat her.
She hadn't made it around the rotunda yet.
'Kevin, stand to attention next to the gate post. Follow my lead.'
I humped it across the drive to the other post.
When the Cadillac came puttering around from the hedges and began the short straight traverse to the gate, I called in my best gunny's voice:
'TehenHut! Present Haaaarms!'
I have to hand it to Kevin, he never blinked an eye; full dress attention and a salute that would make his DI proud.
She drove through that gate with two old worn-out soldiers giving her a send off she deserved, for service rendered to her country, and for knowing Duty, Honor and Sacrifice
I am not sure, but I think I saw a salute returned from that Cadillac.
Instead of 'The End'... just think of 'Taps'.
As a final thought on my part, let me share a favorite prayer:
'Lord, keep our servicemen and women safe, whether they serve at home or over seas. Hold them in Your loving hands and protect them as they protect us.'
Let's all keep those currently serving and those who have gone before, in our thoughts. They are the reason for the many freedoms we enjoy.


'In God We Trust'

Sorry about your monitor, it made mine blurry too! -

[slimster]

Don't know how long it'll be before I can see clearly again...Outstanding post!

[Ysabel Kid]

Sorry... can't seem to speak right now. Got a big lump in my throat...

Thank you for sharing!!!

[gamekeeper]

Thanks for posting. Yes a truly outstanding post.

[crs]

Very good, thanks.

[rjohns94]

this darn thing went blurry and my chair sent chills up and down my spine.

[JerryB]

Thank you Griff, Now that I can see again I will send it on to my son and a few other USMC's in my family. My grandson Marine is in Iraq now. Prayers for all the Military over there.

[donw]

truly touching. it does show the fibre from whence we came.

[TxHunter]

Danggit Griff ! I wish that ya'll would check these things for viruses . Every time I
open one of them my monitor gets all blurry !
Tnx
73
KB5AMX
Mike

[J Miller]

Pure civilian through and through, but the son of a squid. Three Uncles in WWII, and yes my eyes are teared up.

That lady gave all, just like her men folk did.

May God be kind to her in her remaining days.

Joe

[Tycer]

[505stevec]

Words fail, truly heart warming.

[ole pizen slinger]

I posted this on the Shiloh Forums sometime back. It is an urban legend. However, it does make for a nice story. Here's what my friend, Ray Newman, wrote concerning my post:

This appears to be another urban legend.

No such names are found via the "search the wall" feature on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial web page using the names, dates, & branch of service cited above....

http://thewall-usa.com/

ole pizen slinger

[rangerider7]

Great Post!!

[FWiedner]

Look guys, let me start by saying that I ain't tryin' to start a fight, OK?

Here goes...

I've got a question about why the subject of this article is considered patriotic.

Certainly the lady in the article has experienced personal tragedy as the result of the actions of service members in her life, and it's touching that she would honor them by placing her remembrance on their final resting places, but wouldn't anyone do that for their loved ones, Marines or not?

It's easy to be sympathetic to an old lady who has been touched by such experience and such people, and I know that wives of service members are often regarded as "honorary" service members.

My question, outside of the sympathy angle, is what is the patriotic aspect of this "event"? Is it the old woman the patriot being touted?

If the patriotic part is the honoring of the fallen Marines, I get it.

Just trying get a complete picture is all.

[Bruce Scott]

I posted this on the Shiloh Forums sometime back. It is an urban legend. However, it does make for a nice story. Here's what my friend, Ray Newman, wrote concerning my post:

This appears to be another urban legend.

No such names are found via the "search the wall" feature on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial web page using the names, dates, & branch of service cited above....

http://thewall-usa.com/

ole pizen slinger

I tried the search and cannot get a Wieserman in any branch of service. Snopes don't seem to have looked at this one yet.

[Bruce Scott]

I've got a question about why the subject of this article is considered patriotic.
My question, outside of the sympathy angle, is what is the patriotic aspect of this "event"?

Probably the depicted family's service to their country over three generations and that so many died. Just my thoughts.

[Scott Young]

whether the story is fiction or not it relays a truth that many have given all they had. i have several family and friends in the military. i love them and respect them. i am indebted to them for their service. i was unable to serve and carry that guilt. the moral of the story at least for me is...Honor those who gave their all.

i do.