jackfit
Well-known member
Hi ,
I just received this message from Wib61, a corvette owner who I had stayed with on my 48 state trip.
Once I wiped the tears from my eyes, I thought I would share it with you
>
> As I came out of the supermarket that sunny day, pushing my cart
> of groceries towards my car, I saw an old man with the hood of his car
> up and a lady sitting inside the car, with the door open.
>
> The old man was looking at the engine. I put my groceries away
> in my car, and continued to watch the old gentleman from about twenty
> five feet away.
>
> I saw a young man in his early twenties with a grocery bag in
> his arm walking towards the old man. The old gentleman saw him coming
> too, and took a few steps towards him.
>
> I saw the old gentleman point to his open hood and say
> something. The young man put his grocery bag into what looked like a
> brand new Cadillac Escalade. He then turned back to the old man. I heard
> him yell at the old gentleman saying:
>
> 'You shouldn't even be allowed to drive a car at your age.' And
> then with a wave of his hand, he got in his car and peeled rubber out of
> the parking lot.
>
> I saw the old gentleman pull out his handkerchief, and mop his
> brow as he went back to his car and again looked at the engine.
>
> He then went to his wife and spoke with her; he appeared to tell
> her it would be okay. I had seen enough, and I approached the old man.
> He saw me coming and stood straight, and as I got near him I said,
> 'Looks like you're having a problem.'
>
> He smiled sheepishly, and quietly nodded his head. I looked
> under the hood myself, and knew that whatever the problem was, it was
> beyond me. Looking around, I saw a gas station up the road, and I told
> the old man that I would be right back. I drove to the station and went
> inside. I saw three attendants working on cars. I approached one of
> them, and related the problem the old man had with his car. I offered to
> pay them if they could follow me back down and help him.
>
> The old man had pushed the heavy car under the shade of a tree
> and appeared to be comforting his wife. When he saw us he straightened
> up and thanked me for my help. As the mechanics diagnosed the problem
> (overheated engine), I spoke with the old gentleman.
>
> When I shook hands with him earlier, he had noticed my Marine
> Corps ring and had commented about it, telling me that he had been a
> Marine too. I nodded and asked the usual question, 'What outfit did you
> serve with?'
>
> He said that he served with the first Marine Division at
> Guadalcanal, Pelieliu, and Okinawa .
>
> He had hit three of the worst ones, and retired from the Corps
> after the war was over. As we talked we heard the car engine come on and
> saw the mechanics lower the hood. They came over to us as the old man
> reached for his wallet, but was stopped by me. I told him I would just
> put the bill on my AAA card.
>
> He still reached for the wallet and handed me a card that I
> assumed had his name and address on it, and I stuck it in my pocket. We
> all shook hands all around again, and I said my goodbye's to his wife.
>
> I then told the two mechanics that I would follow them back up
> to the station. Once at the station, I told them that they had
> interrupted their own jobs to come along with me and help the old man. I
> said I wanted to pay for the help, but they refused to charge me.
>
> One of them pulled out a card from his pocket, looking exactly
> like the card the old man had given to me. Both of the men told me then
> that they were Marine Corps Reserves. Once again we shook hands all
> around and as I was leaving, one of them told me I should look at the
> card the old man had given to me. I said I would and drove off.
>
> For some reason I had gone about two blocks, when I pulled over
> and took the card out of my pocket and looked at it for a long, long
> time. The name of the old gentleman was on the card in golden leaf and
> under his name was written: 'Congressional Medal of Honor Society.'
>
>
> I sat there motionless, looking at the card and reading it over
> and over. I looked up from the card and smiled to no one but myself and
> marveled that on this day, four Marines had all come together because
> one of us needed help. He was an old man all right, but it felt good to
> have stood next to greatness and courage, and an honor to have been in
> his presence.
>
> Remember, as we approach another Memorial Day, OLD men like him
> gave you, and all of us, FREEDOM for America .
> Thanks to those who served and still serve, and to all of those
> who supported them, and who continue to support them.
>
> America is not at war. The U.S. Military is at war. America is
> at the Mall.
>
> If you don't stand behind our troops, PLEASE feel free to stand
> in front of them!
>
> Remember, Freedom isn't Free. Thousands have paid the price, so
> that you can enjoy what you have today.
>
>
Have a great Memorial Day
Jack
I just received this message from Wib61, a corvette owner who I had stayed with on my 48 state trip.
Once I wiped the tears from my eyes, I thought I would share it with you
>
> As I came out of the supermarket that sunny day, pushing my cart
> of groceries towards my car, I saw an old man with the hood of his car
> up and a lady sitting inside the car, with the door open.
>
> The old man was looking at the engine. I put my groceries away
> in my car, and continued to watch the old gentleman from about twenty
> five feet away.
>
> I saw a young man in his early twenties with a grocery bag in
> his arm walking towards the old man. The old gentleman saw him coming
> too, and took a few steps towards him.
>
> I saw the old gentleman point to his open hood and say
> something. The young man put his grocery bag into what looked like a
> brand new Cadillac Escalade. He then turned back to the old man. I heard
> him yell at the old gentleman saying:
>
> 'You shouldn't even be allowed to drive a car at your age.' And
> then with a wave of his hand, he got in his car and peeled rubber out of
> the parking lot.
>
> I saw the old gentleman pull out his handkerchief, and mop his
> brow as he went back to his car and again looked at the engine.
>
> He then went to his wife and spoke with her; he appeared to tell
> her it would be okay. I had seen enough, and I approached the old man.
> He saw me coming and stood straight, and as I got near him I said,
> 'Looks like you're having a problem.'
>
> He smiled sheepishly, and quietly nodded his head. I looked
> under the hood myself, and knew that whatever the problem was, it was
> beyond me. Looking around, I saw a gas station up the road, and I told
> the old man that I would be right back. I drove to the station and went
> inside. I saw three attendants working on cars. I approached one of
> them, and related the problem the old man had with his car. I offered to
> pay them if they could follow me back down and help him.
>
> The old man had pushed the heavy car under the shade of a tree
> and appeared to be comforting his wife. When he saw us he straightened
> up and thanked me for my help. As the mechanics diagnosed the problem
> (overheated engine), I spoke with the old gentleman.
>
> When I shook hands with him earlier, he had noticed my Marine
> Corps ring and had commented about it, telling me that he had been a
> Marine too. I nodded and asked the usual question, 'What outfit did you
> serve with?'
>
> He said that he served with the first Marine Division at
> Guadalcanal, Pelieliu, and Okinawa .
>
> He had hit three of the worst ones, and retired from the Corps
> after the war was over. As we talked we heard the car engine come on and
> saw the mechanics lower the hood. They came over to us as the old man
> reached for his wallet, but was stopped by me. I told him I would just
> put the bill on my AAA card.
>
> He still reached for the wallet and handed me a card that I
> assumed had his name and address on it, and I stuck it in my pocket. We
> all shook hands all around again, and I said my goodbye's to his wife.
>
> I then told the two mechanics that I would follow them back up
> to the station. Once at the station, I told them that they had
> interrupted their own jobs to come along with me and help the old man. I
> said I wanted to pay for the help, but they refused to charge me.
>
> One of them pulled out a card from his pocket, looking exactly
> like the card the old man had given to me. Both of the men told me then
> that they were Marine Corps Reserves. Once again we shook hands all
> around and as I was leaving, one of them told me I should look at the
> card the old man had given to me. I said I would and drove off.
>
> For some reason I had gone about two blocks, when I pulled over
> and took the card out of my pocket and looked at it for a long, long
> time. The name of the old gentleman was on the card in golden leaf and
> under his name was written: 'Congressional Medal of Honor Society.'
>
>
> I sat there motionless, looking at the card and reading it over
> and over. I looked up from the card and smiled to no one but myself and
> marveled that on this day, four Marines had all come together because
> one of us needed help. He was an old man all right, but it felt good to
> have stood next to greatness and courage, and an honor to have been in
> his presence.
>
> Remember, as we approach another Memorial Day, OLD men like him
> gave you, and all of us, FREEDOM for America .
> Thanks to those who served and still serve, and to all of those
> who supported them, and who continue to support them.
>
> America is not at war. The U.S. Military is at war. America is
> at the Mall.
>
> If you don't stand behind our troops, PLEASE feel free to stand
> in front of them!
>
> Remember, Freedom isn't Free. Thousands have paid the price, so
> that you can enjoy what you have today.
>
>
Have a great Memorial Day
Jack
