The Difference

Posted By Blackfive

Via Geby and Jay D., send this email written by Chaplain Jim Higgins on 5/14/07 from LSA Anaconda, Iraq:

"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 [mid-anthem].

What would you expect to happen?

Even here I would imagine laughter as everyone sat down and expected the movie to start.

Here, you could have heard a pin drop. Every soldier stood at attention. Suddenly there was a lone voice, then a dozen, and quickly the room was filled with the voices of a thousand soldiers:

'And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. O 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.

Update:  The Watch Cat reminds me that the Chaplain has a blog - Letters from the Desert - which is where this email was from...

TrackBack

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/2819/19331394

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference The Difference:

» A Special Breed from A Soldier's Perspective
... [Read More]

Comments

[red river]

Yes, they are Worthy.

[David]

that is an awesome story.

I am just curious, does the movie start with the star spangled banner song? and is that the way the movie producer meant for it to be that the song would not complete?

[Uncle Jimbo]

David,

It's a military theater thing, not part of the movie itsself.

I will add a reverent WOW!

Cordially,

Uncle J

[Jay]

They don't even play the national anthem at theaters anymore, do they? Not here in flyover country, at least.

Great story!

[The WatchCat]

You can read Jim Higgins' blog at http://letters-from-the-desert.blogspot.com/

[rgrmom82]

Doesn't suprise me a bit! Hooa!

[Theresa, MSgt (ret), USAF]

That just brought a tear to my eye. Damn, that makes me proud. David/Jay, as Uncle J mentioned, at all military installation movie theatres they play the National Anthem prior to showing movies. My kids, when they first got back to the CONUS after 8 years overseas, wondered why they didn't play the Anthem in the town theatre. Yup, I raised them right just like all those soldiers in that theatre.

[Blackfive]

Thanks, Watch Cat, I'll put the link to it in the post.

[Old Tanker]

Can I get a HELL YA!!!

[martin.musculus]

This story puts me in mind of something that happened winter 2005 at the McGuire/FtDix shoppette.

It was on a frozen Friday, in the dim at 1700 and people were rushing to fill their gas tank and get back in their warm cars, lots of people heavily bundled up, with a good strong wind.

A middle aged well dressed woman pulled-up at the pump behind me & started filling her pink (yes, really pink) car, and a grizzled-haired, well-weathered man his SUV at the pump on the other side of the pump-island from her. I noticed this because I ws cleaning the road-grime of the windows of my van, and the cold-wind-induced stiffness made moving around on my cane slow-going.

After retreat, the anthem played, and the grizzled-man & I stood at attention, he saluting, e with my hand over my heart. The woman finished filling her pinkmobile and was squeegy-ing her windows when the anthem ended.

Before I could move, the grizzled soldier stepped over and gently said, (Ill always remember this exchange): "Ma'am, please show respect for our country and those who serve, by stopping for our National Anthem."

She turned, and looking down her nose said: "My husband is a Lt Col., so just mind your own business!"

At this point the man unbuttoned the top of his jacket, and shrugging a shoulder down, (because of the lighting & angle I couldn't see clearly) he said"Ma'am, I'm a general, and I know I would be hurt if my wife had said that, and angry if someone under me had a spouse who expressed that attitude." He never raised his voice, nor did his tone express recrimination. Still, it brought tears to my eyes.

The wonan stopped what she was doing and left.

This taught me to be valient and ask (nicely) that people sho proper respect for both the Flag and the Anthem.

- martin.musculus

[Beth* A.]

Old Tanker,

I second that emotion!

[LisaV (aka "Talismen" - Lady Crusader against jihad)]

Truly amazing.

How I wish our politicians had that kind of grit...that kind of courage...that kind of gumption.

May God continue to bless our troops!

[bthun]

"I will add a reverent WOW!"

I'll second that motion UJ!

Martin.M, the General was absolutely spot on. I too was taught to approach situations like that with courtesy and respect. My pop said if all goes south after your good faith efforts, you can respond to the escalation as needed with a clear conscience.

And no they don't play the National Anthem in red-state, southern theaters any longer, at least not down around Atlanta way.

I think I may just mention that to the local theater management although I'm sure it has something to do with the ACLU.

[Cpl M]

Matt, I hope you don't mind me lifting the theater story and comment from martin.musculus for posting on ASP. I have goosebumps and chills running through me that I can't shake. I'm truly touched by both stories.

[Dustyvet]

I teared up when I read this one, God Bless our young men and women who are doing their best for all of us back here. May God keep them out of harms way, and bless each and every one of them.

[Synova]

"Suddenly there was a lone voice, then a dozen,..."

What a brilliant solution.

[JoeS]

Great Story!!

I cannot imagine why Harry Reid and the democrats hate our military.

[jtb]

I once again realize I'm not worthy to share the name American with these guys...

I sure wish I was; but I am exceedingly thankful to and for them all.

[warvet48]

Made me tear up too. I know when I was on active they used to do this at the base theaters before movies, I don't know now. These men make my heart and spirit soar!

[Frank]

Neat stuff. Reminds me of when I was in High School. I went to a catholic high school that had a really good basketball team and a fan section that was known for being rowdy, rude, and saying almost anything to the opposing team. Before every game they played the national anthem. But one game the sound system cut out. There was no yelling, and no side remarks... instead you had our ~150 member student section begin singing the national anthem. We sang the complete song and our team went on to blow out the opponents. It was certainly one of our prouder moments.

[JG]

Why is it one might have anticipated this when the sound died out the second time? They are the very best, without a doubt! Chaplain Higgins is correct - it is inspiring and exactly in character for the men involved!

[Defendusa]

Old Tanker..."HELL YEAH"!!!
That is a great story. Big time with the goosebumps..................

[Ymarsakar]

What a brilliant solution.

Posted by: Synova | Jun 15, 2007 4:12:28 PM

Indeed, a lot better than the whining and the lack of discipline you see elsewhere.

[mindy abraham]

How wonderful to hear that-it is inspiring to see. :):):)

[TC]

What a great story. Sad to say it would never happen here at home. Most people don't know the song, and don't have the character to do something like that. And would something like this happen in congress? Nah, didn't think so. I don't think many of them know the song either.

[Blogengeezer]

Great stories to read about the future leaders of our Great Nation. I just finished a 'post' referring to our great Military on
http://daflikkers.blogspot.com/

We are going to see a revision of our future because of these Fine Troops. Hurry home troops your Nation needs you.

[Duane]

Joe S Hairy Reed and his democrat cohorts hate the U S Military because they are loyal to the United States and not the Terrorists and Communists that are providing said democrats with their financing.

[Paul Chaplain]

Can't get enough.

Paul

[Lurking Vet]

Well, of course: Adapt, Improvise, Overcome. Brilliant!

Related story: back in the dinosaur era (okay, the early 80s), when I was at Ft. Lewis, we went off-post to see the movie Poltergeist. The movie starts w/a little girl watching TV late at night and the Star Spangled Banner is playing (that's how stations used to sign off in those days). Don't you know I automatically stood up and placed my hand over my heart, only to have one of my buddies yank me back down and whisper, "We're not on post! This is part of the movie!"

[ned terry]

big deal. too bad they are getting their butts kicked by arabs building bombs in garages. this is the best we can get for 2 billion a week, give me a break

[baldilocks]

Ah, ned.

Feeling a little inadequate after reading that story? You should feel that way. Lots of others do as well. However most of them are mature enough to give our troops their due and not whine about it. There's nothing worse than a whining "man."

[Bill]

Ned,

You are woefully misinformed.

First, I'm going to assume that you have never served, since you refer to the soldiers as "they." Your use of "they" also seems to indicate that you view soldiers as "others" and not part of your collective identity group. I will not speculate on whether you think that soldiers are not Americans (which would be hard to imagine since they duly respected the national anthem) or if you don't see yourself as an American... The most important thing you must come to understand is that the effort against the terrorists around the world and against the multifarious elements in Iraq is a "we/us" project - its an American project that we will all succeed in, or we will all fail in, together.

Second, I'm going to again assume that you have not served in or been in Iraq in the last couple years. I was an infantry company commander in Fallujah from September 2005 to April 2006. We aren't getting our "butts kicked." I will not sugarcoat the issue and say that the situation wasn't difficult at points (a discussion for a much longer post). However, I believe that you are a victim of the incomplete reporting on the situation in Iraq. For whatever reason(s) (and there are many), the media has oversimplified the situation to maintain a simple narrative. Further, they consistently fail to mention coalition successes, while reporting many/most bombings by our adversaries. This skewing of information leads to misperceptions among the American people (you among them, apparently) that we are getting our "butts kicked." Without making this post any longer than it already is, the bottom line is that we are winning and this war is ours to lose, not the enemy's to win. If you truly want to be informed, check out the evolution of the situation in Al Anbar province...

Semper Fidelis,
Bill

[Ymarsakar]

There's nothing worse than a whining "man."

Of course. Less than a day after my previous post as well. These people cannot help themselves; no discipline nor control.

I came back to this thread because I found a song that people might enjoy. It is not the Star Spangled Banner unfortunately, because there are no instances of her singing that. But there is Amazing Grace. That is enough, for now

[Bill]

Superman 3??!!?? I'm hoping the good Chaplain means 'Superman Returns' (since it was advertised as having occured after the events of Superman II). Cause if Superman III (with Richard Pryor) is the best we can do for our troops, we should be ashamed. Anyway, wonderful story.

[Jack in Phoenix]

Down here in Arizona they don't play the National Anthem before the movie starts. There are so many illegals in the theatre they wouldn't know what song it was. And if there were to be reconquista agitators in the theatre, they'd probably demand the Mexican anthem.

Still, at high school, Arizona State and Diamondback games, you can still hear a pin drop

[HeatherRadish]

Awesome story.

This year I went to Indianapolis to watch the Super Bowl in a blues bar downtown, and during the Anthem everyone stopped drinking and stood up. First time I've ever seen that happen in a bar. Made me tear up.

It was an improvement over the actual game I'd been to a few months earlier, where about half the people in my section didn't even stop talking during the presentation of the colors and the anthem. It seems to be a generational thing--most people under 35 never learned how to behave toward the flag and the national anthem. Military men obviously excepted. :)

[Reen]

Dear Chaplain Higgins,

It made my heart swell with pride and love.
God Bless all our service men & women.

Proud Mother of Two Service Men.

[SHARON L.]

THANK YOU Marine for all you are doing to keep the war over there, we know it could be going on in the states,thank you to your families for raising you to be such proud, honorable people that you would join in, and help our country when you are needed.God bless you and your family.