Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Will You Give This To My daddy?


I got this in an E-mail and just had to share it with my friends...



From the E-mail:


Last week I was in Atlanta , Georgia attending a conference. While Iwas in the airport, returning home, I heard several people behind me beginning to clap and cheer. I immediately turned around and witnessedone of the greatest acts of patriotism I have ever seen.


Moving thru the terminal was a group of soldiers in their camos. As theybegan heading to their gate, everyone (well almost everyone)was abruptlyto their feet with their hands waving and cheering.When I saw the soldiers, probably 30-40 of them, being applauded andcheered for, it hit me. I'm not alone. I'm not the only red-bloodedAmerican who still loves this country and supports our troops and theirfamilies.Of course I immediately stopped and began clapping for these youngunsung heroes who are putting their lives on the line everyday for us so

we can go to school, work and home without fear or reprisal.


Just when I thought I could not be more proud of my country or of our service men and women, a young girl, not more than 6 or 7 years old ran up to one of the male soldiers. He kneeled down and said 'hi.'

The little girl then asked him if he would give something to her daddyfor her.

The young soldier, who didn't look any older than maybe 22 himself, said he would try and what did she want to give to her daddy.

Then suddenly the little girl grabbed the neck of this soldier, gave him thebiggest hug she could muster and then kissed him on the cheek.The mother of the little girl, who said her daughter's name was Courtney, told the young soldier that her husband was a Marine and had been in Iraq for 11 months now.

As the mom was explaining how much her daughter Courtney missed her father, the young soldier began to tear up.When this temporarily single mom was done explaining her situation, allof the soldiers huddled together for a brief second. Then one of theother servicemen pulled out a military-looking walkie-talkie. They started playing with the device and talking back and forth on it.After about 10-15 seconds of this, the young soldier walked back over to Courtney, bent down and said this to her, 'I spoke to your daddy and hetold me to give this to you.'


He then hugged this little girl that he had just met and gave her a kiss on the cheek. He finished by saying' your daddy told me to tell you that he loves you more than anything and he is coming home very soon.'The mom at this point was crying almost uncontrollably and as the young soldier stood to his feet, he saluted Courtney and her mom. I was standing no more than 6 feet away from this entire event.As the soldiers began to leave, heading towards their gate, people resumed their applause. As I stood there applauding and looked around,there were very few dry eyes, including my own.


That young soldier in one last act of selflessness, turned around and blew a kiss to Courtney with a tear rolling down his cheek.We need to remember everyday all of our soldiers and their families and thank God for them and their sacrifices. At the end of the day, it's good to be an American.



I hope all of you have a blessed and Happy day...

Bunches of hugs.....



Stephanie

15 comments:

Diane@Diane's Place said...

I've gotten this email several times and it never fails to make me tear up.

Hope your week is going well, Stephanie. :o)

Love and hugs,

Diane

hippo chick said...

If that doesn't bring tears to your eyes, you must be very hard-hearted indeed.

Thanks for sharing. I saw something on TV asking for people to give the "thank you" sign to soldiers when we see them. I always try to do that. A little thing can mean so much.

Hugs to you.

Needled Mom said...

What a wonderful story. Thanks for sharing.

Alice said...

I hope people treat my cousin's husband like this. He leaves for Iraq in two weeks. His little boy is only six-months old.

Pam said...

those always make me teary eyed - thanks for sharing!

LZ Blogger said...

Stephanie ~ I am almost at a loss of words here... Thank God that we now treat our soldiers like this and not like we Vietnam Vets were treated when we got back from our combat tours of duty. I think this a wonderful and heart-warming story, it actually gives me hope for the future, as long as people respect and admire our selfless defenders of the freedoms that we all currently enjoy! WONDERFUL... TRULY THX! ~ jb///

Anonymous said...

I am agree with you that we need to remember everyday all of our soldiers and their families and thank God for them and their sacrifices.We should do something for them.

Anonymous said...

this is a nice post, very touching. thanks for sharing this.

vanessa
http://www.mylavenderfields.com
http://www.thepinedas.wordpress.com

Monogram Queen said...

Amen, a beautiful story. Thank you for sharing. I still have to share my award too!

Renie Burghardt said...

Hi Stephanie,

Yep, got tears in my eyes, too, reading this. God bless our troops!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Hugs,

Renie

Nancy said...

I have received this email before, and, yes, it certainly does bring the tears on.

I had a comment from a blogger, whose dad is older now and still very much a patriot, and he marches in the Memorial Day parade every year and such. He was in the war and never saw one of his little girls until she was two and a half years old!

We do owe all of our veterans for every one of the freedoms we have. I can understand why so many from other countries risk their lives trying to get into our country. At the nail salon where I go, the owner there told me one day about how he and his wife came over on an old boat, in the sun and rain, no cover, just an old open boat, and thought they were going to die during their trip of 3weeks on the water. He said some did die. The only food they had for the 3 weeks was what they had brought with them. Their families didn't know if they were dead or alive until they actually got in the states and could mail them a letter! Can you imagine one of your children on a boat like that, not knowing for 3 weeks if they were alive or dead? That would just kill me. And this couple then worked and saved their money so they could bring their parents and siblings over to our country. They are just the sweetest couple and talk about becoming U.S. citizens as being theeee best day of their lives. And then we wake up every morning, not knowing anything else but our free way of life. We are so very fortunate, indeed!

Glad you shared this email with all your readers! Wonderful, wonderful!!!

Anonymous said...

I think this a wonderful and heart-warming story, it actually gives me hope for the future, as long as people respect and admire our selfless defenders of the freedoms that we all currently enjoy.

Babydoll said...

Wow!! That was beautiful!!

Unknown said...

This is so sweet and yet sad at the same time. I hope your day is going great~ Hugs, Lisa

Bare said...

That is a tear-jerker, and so very precious! It truly is good to be an American! *hugs and love*