A day for heroes

A Day For the Heroes

�On Saturday I went to Ft. Stewart where the USO was putting on a welcome home day for the 3rd ID. Local food places donated food and a carnival was set up for the soldiers' families. Jeff Foxworthy performed and so did Chely Wright. It was a great day! But a couple of things made it stand out in my mind. First I'll tell you about Jeff Foxworthy. He was as funny as ever of course, but when he finished his "act" he said some truly heartfelt things to�his audience. He told them thank you. He told them how much they were appreciated. Most of all he told them how honored he was to be there. When he was finished he came over to the fence near where I was standing. Of course a huge crowd soon came over also. But what made this crowd different was 90% of the men around me were wounded�soldiers. Some on crutches..some leaning on canes..some just walking with a limp. Standing right next to me was a young redhead. When Jeff got to her I overheard a soldier tell him that she was the wife of Sgt. so and so (I couldn't hear his name) and that Sgt so and so didn't make it home from Iraq. � Jeff took this young girl and hugged her so tight and told her how sorry he was for her loss. I had to look away. I didn't want to be there. I didn't belong where I was standing. I didn't deserve to be standing there amongst these men. I wanted out of that crowd and couldn't get out. So as Jeff made his way down the line signing autographs I turned away. Bill was telling me to turn around and get my picture with him and I just said NO. I was NOT going to be an autograph seeker in this crowd. It wasn't about me..it was all about THEM. Anyway..he spent about 30 minutes signing and posing for pictures. Then he went into the VIP tent. Next came country singer Chely Wright. I don't care much for country music, but I had however heard one song of hers. It's called Bumper of My SUV. When the time came for her to sing that song she told the story behind her writing it etc. As I sat and listened to her relay the story, I looked at the faces around me. On my right was an MP who looked about 19 and on my left was a young guy sitting all alone. He had a cane propped up against his chair. I sat and stared at his profile in awe. He looked like he was literally absorbing every word she was saying. He was so focused.� So in hearing what she was saying and seeing his reaction my eyes of course welled with tears. I felt like the luckiest person in the world to be where I was at that moment. To be surrounded by people who had made such a huge sacrifice was overwhelming to me. I had a pain in my chest that I first thought was a heart attack! Then I realized it wasn't a heart attack....it was pride. I felt so much pride for a young man that I'd never seen before...for a young man who gave so much for the country he loved. Bless his heart..and all those like him. Below are the lyrics to the song Chely was inspired to write on behalf of her brother..a United States Marine .

I've got a bright red sticker on the back of my car
Says United States Marines
And yesterday a lady in a mini-van held up a middle finger at me
Does she think she knows what I stand for
Or the things that I believe
Just by looking at a sticker for the U.S. Marines
On the bumper of my SUV

See, my brother Chris, he's been in for more than 14 years now
Our dad was in the Navy during Vietnam
Did his duty then he got out
And my grandpa earned his purple heart
On the beach of Normandy
That's why I've got a sticker for the U.S. Marines
On the bumper of my SUV

But that doesn't mean that I want war
I'm not Republican or Democrat
But I've gone all around this crazy world
Just to try and better understand
Yes, I do have questions
I get to ask them because I'm free
That's why I've got a sticker for the U.S. Marines
On the bumper of my SUV

'Cause I've been to Hiroshima
And I've been to the DMZ
I've walked on the sand in Baghdad
Still don't have all of the answers I need
But I guess I wanna know where she's been
Before she judges and gestures to me
'Cause she don't like my sticker for the U.S. Marines
On the bumper of my SUV

So I hope that lady in her mini-van
Turns on her radio and hears this from me
As she picks up her kids from their private school
And drives home safely on our city streets
Or to the building where her church group meets
Yeah, that's why I've got a sticker for the U.S. Marines
On the bumper of my SUV

No matter what your views are on the war..no matter what political party you belong to..we are ALL Americans!! Don't be the lady in the mini van. Don't assume things that you know nothing about. Don't be so quick to judge. If you say you support the troops then dammit do it with more than lip service. Send a care package, a letter or even a post card. They don't care...they only want to know that they aren't fighting for nothing.�