It's not a secret that I love a good military story. I have watched Band of Brothers enough to feel personally connected to the characters. I read Major Winter's biography in a week and cried the day he died (which was really uncomfortable for the people on the treadmills on either side of me). I read books about WWII for fun, watch documentaries about Uboats, take tours of battleships and aircraft carries (where I get even more emotional) and any time I see a person with a 'veteran' hat, I do my best to shake their hand and thank them for their service.
So imagine what it was like to be on a plane carrying the remains of a fallen soldier. I was in the Houston airport on my way home for a visit a few years ago when it was asked that anyone who could to try and check their carry ons to make room for those traveling as escorts to the remains. We were then asked to have a moment of silence right there in the terminal. My heart began to burn and I put down my book.
Unfortunately, not all heard the announcement. A young guy had both headphones in and was having a very loud conversation, which maybe wasn't so loud, but because EVERYONE else had heard and were honoring this moment, the noise he was making was augmented. I was so angry, and I tried, with my eyes, to show him how rude he was being. His conversation continued and I wished to do something, but couldn't get myself to stand up.
From the corner of my eye, I saw an older gentleman stand, walk across the concord and pull the headphones out of the younger man's ears. As he turned to attack the man who had just ripped his earbuds out, someone, I'm not sure if it was me or someone else, quickly said, 'moment of silence, fallen soldier'. I wish I could tell you that he was apologetic, but if I remember correctly, he moved to the window and started taking pictures.
I've been thinking about this experience a lot this week for a few reasons, some of which I won't go in to here, but mostly, I hope that you all know how grateful I am for men and women who are willing to lay down their lives for me. I am also thankful for those who willingly continue to serve our country and maintain those rights, at whatever the cost.
You hear the phrase a lot, 'All it takes for evil to prevail is for good men to stand by and do nothing.' That was me. I was too afraid, too cowardly to stand up and make sure the right prevailed. It was such a small moment, but it's impact has run through my mind for years now. It is hard sometimes to stand up. It is hard to get off your bum and do what is right, especially when so many around you continue to sit. We are all waging a war, not of arms, but of words and thoughts and actions. A war where just because we don't agree, somehow that makes it okay to be ugly to each other. I struggle with this daily. There are so many I love and care about who believe very differently than I do. More often than not, I sit idly by and let differences of opinion create casms in my relationships with family and friends. It is possible to stand for what you believe in without harming those who don't share your beliefs. But we can't approach it like a bull in a china shop.
I also hope to express how important I think it is to unplugg ourselves sometimes! What a moment that young man missed out on because he was so busy staying connected. My heart swelled and ached as I sat in that airport waiting for the moment of silence to actually happen and then when it did, it was overshadowed by this awful feeling. Don't be so concerned with what is going on somewhere else that you miss what is right in front of you!
And a word to the man who stood up: Thank you for being brave when everyone else could only sit and stare. It is because of men and women like you that we have the freedoms we have. I wish it had been me and I hope that from now on it will be.
God bless those who are, have and will serve our country. God bless those who deal daily with the affects of war and those who are charged to care for them.
And God bless the person next to me on the treadmill the next time someone who's biography I read and loved dies.
