Turn on the evening news and it's one disaster after another, one twisted or violent loser after another -- and that's just the "entertainment" news.
It's easy to conclude the whole world is some kind of snake-pit, in which only the scum rises to the top.
But while that may be part of the story, it's not the whole story.
Take, as one example, the Arlington Ladies. In 1948, Gladys and Hoyt Vandenberg -- make that USAF Chief of Staff Vandenberg and wife -- were walking in Arlington National Cemetery when they witnessed servicemen being buried with no friends or family present. Gladys Vandenberg resolved that someone needed to step up and it might as well be her; she formed a group from the Officer's Wives Club to attend all Air Force funerals and the other services eventually followed suit.
Somebody not government-issued is there to see service members off.* Maybe it's just sentiment but it's the right thing to do.
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* USMC has no official "Arlington Lady;" Marines look after their own and you can count on it.
Thanks for that little gem.
ReplyDeleteSort of renews (a bit of) faith in human nature.
Most of our soldiers only ask for a few things. Money to spend on wine and women (families if they have them). If they get hurt we take care of them and if they buy it we bring them home and look after their families.
ReplyDeleteThats about all they want and it isn't too much to ask for considering what they do. You won't find many NFL stars that would suit up for a tour in A-Stan at double their pay. In fact I can only think of one who even took a pay cut to do it, Pat Tillman.
Most of our soldiers only ask for a few things. Money to spend on wine and women (families if they have them). If they get hurt we take care of them and if they buy it we bring them home and look after their families.
ReplyDeleteThats about all they want and it isn't too much to ask for considering what they do. You won't find many NFL stars that would suit up for a tour in A-Stan at double their pay. In fact I can only think of one who even took a pay cut to do it, Pat Tillman.