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18 Responses to ““God Bless America”…what a Moment!”

1. Don Richards Says:
   May 25th, 2007 at 11:19 am

   What a great idea for a blog!

   Seriously, there are many moments I can think of, especially coming from a military family. In my immediate family there have been three Marines and two Army officers. Two saw active combat. I come from a family of protectors and leaders.

   My proudest (and scariest) patriotic moment came when I was in 2nd grade and seeing my Father deployed to Vietnam. This was his second combat tour as he was also in Korea. I had always known he was in the Army, but at that moment he became a soldier willing to give everything for his country. We flew an American flag from our house every day and I still do. With all due respect to all the college football fans, I always saw this as more important.

   At his funeral a few years after retiring from the Army after 35 years they gave him full military honors including the 21 gun salute. I still get choked up thinking about that. His funeral was on Veteran’s Day which I always thought God ordained.

   Being an American is an honor and real people keep us safe.

2. Pamala Says:
   May 25th, 2007 at 11:52 am

   I had planned to tell of a few summers ago when I attended the ASO for a musical tribute to our Armed Forces. As the symphony played music for each of the branches of the military, I found myself instinctively standing up when the Air Force part of the program played. All around me, I soon realized as I wiped away my tears, were sitting, then on their feet, several others in the audience who had loved ones in the Air Force.
   Seeing the comment from the young man whose father had come home from Vietnam reminded me of the day my sisters and our Mother drove to pick up our Father (a WWII, Korean and now Vietnam veteran) at the Airport in Memphis when he returned. I thought the sun over Vietnam had not only baked but shrunk him during the long months he was away. He must had thought the same thing (that was the year I grew over 6 inches) It was a proud and joyous reunion. I miss him very much every day but perhaps more so whenever I hear a patriotic tune.

3. Daniel J. Mount Says:
   May 25th, 2007 at 12:14 pm

   Nice blog! I haven’t thought of any moments, but you said to stop by, so I did anyhow.

4. admin Says:
   May 25th, 2007 at 12:28 pm

   Come on Daniel!
   Have you ever recited the Pledge? Have you ever sung the Anthem? Have you ever seen a Military Band? Have you ever visited a battlefield? I know you are an expert in presidential history…surely something you have read, in all your research, has moved you!

   You are one for the finest poets I know. You are so skilled with the language. IF you won’t grace us here with a memory, at least post an article at your blog ( www.southerngospelblog.com ) and update us here.
   You are not getting off the hook like that. NO WAY.

   Come On Daniel…Come blog with us!

   Paul Jackson / The Prophets

   PS…don’t give out our song lyric yet…oh no!

5. Bro. Bill Says:
   May 25th, 2007 at 12:28 pm

   In 1974 on the 4th of July I was in Ft. Leonard Wood Mo. in basic training. As we prepared for the ceremony a great sense of awe came over me as I began to comprehend the awesome privilege of getting to serve my/our country.

   To know I was wearing a military uniform as did my dad, and other friends and relatives was a proud moment. Standing shoulder to shoulder with several thousand soldiers at one time celebrating our freedom was a very special moment in my life.

6. Daniel J. Mount Says:
   May 25th, 2007 at 12:37 pm

   Paul…actually, that does express my feelings better than anything else!

   Well, okay, you’ve got me cornered. I’ll say something. One memory that particularly sticks out was when I went to a friend’s church last Memorial Day Sunday and played a piano/trumpet duet with him on “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Shortly after we did that, he joined the Army, and he is now training to serve our country wherever he is needed.

7. admin Says:
   May 25th, 2007 at 12:49 pm

   These are great stories…help me spread the word about this blog…let’s get 77 comments on here…Be sure and tell us if you served and what branch…
   DANIEL: Do you play the trumpet?
   DON: Were you not a Marine?
   BILL: What branch for basic?
   PAMALA & DON: your comments on your Father’s trump us all so far
   Thanks for sharing…
   PJ

8. Don Richards Says:
   May 25th, 2007 at 12:54 pm

   Pamela…you are right. Hearing the various service hymns can be very inspiring. I get chills when I hear “From The Halls of Montezuma” every time…

   I’ll tell you another great sight is watching the Army-Navy football game every year and seeing the two Corps of Cadets march in the stadium.

   Last year while watching Air Force play Tennessee in football, I was tickled at the UT coach yelling at his player who has just been beat badly “You’re trying to get ready for the NFL…he is getting ready for Iraq!”

9. Don Richards Says:
   May 25th, 2007 at 1:00 pm

   Paul…yes I am a former Marine. Semper Fi.

10. Bro. Bill Says:
    May 25th, 2007 at 1:06 pm

    I was in the US Army. I stayed in the reserves 13 years, and left as I felt the call to the ministry. They are not conflicting calls, but I needed that time for my family and to clear my mind.

    Another proud American moment was last year as I stood at the tomb of the unknown soldier in Arlington National Cemetery with my wife and 2 granddaughters. As a former soldier it was a humbling moment to see all the tombs of men and women who gave of their lives for us.

11. Jimmy Pierce Says:
    May 25th, 2007 at 3:51 pm

    As a kid I would wonder what all the white headstones were at our National Cementary. Until my father (who is now in heaven) told me what they were. That made me sad for them but proud that my father was a soldier. He spent World War 2 protecting us then the rest of his time was in the Arkansas National Guard. (Camp Robinson, Ark.) I got to know many soldiers where he worked. It’s like another family. My father passed away in 1991 at Fort Bliss Texas and they flew him back to Arkansas to be buried in our National Cementary. Now he is one of the white headstones that I am proud of. When they played the taps and had the 21 gun salute that brought tears of joy and sadness to me. I was drafted at 19 but an injury kept me from going then. My father got me in the National Guard so I spent 6 years in the same unit he was in and for a short time I stood side by side with him at drills. Thanks to All the soldiers that salute our flag and sing our anthems. They don’t get enough credit for what they do for us.

12. Brenda Aquilino Says:
    May 25th, 2007 at 4:22 pm

    I always get a lump in my throat when I see our flag whether it’s in a Memorial Day Parade or draped over a coffin. This is a perfect time to let our troops know that we support them and appreciate their sacrifice to serve this country. There are many serving overseas, but also there are many serving in support roles right here in the U.S. at our military bases.

    I was blessed to serve in three branches of the military. U.S. Air Force, U.S. Coast Guard, and the Air National Guard for a total of 26 years.

    Thanks to all that served before us and those who will in the future! God Bless America!

13. Janie Elton Says:
    May 25th, 2007 at 7:17 pm

    Unlike some of you, I am not from a military family nor was I one. I do have several relatives and friends who have served ‘Our Great Country’. One of them being my dear cousin, Brenda Aquilino. I always admired her and thought how great a lady she was for serving our country all the years she did.
    But there is nothing more beautiful and that touches me any more than seeing our American Flag being flown. The one that I think is the most beautiful is the huge flag as you are going in to Jacksonville.
    I do thank God for our many soldiers that leave their families to go and fight for our freedom. May God Bless them all and keep them safe, and give their families grace while they are away.
    MAY GOD RICHLY BLESS EACH OF YOU, MY ARC FRIENDS.

14. James Burleson Says:
    May 26th, 2007 at 2:10 am

    Barely out of high school, my U.S. Marine reserve unit was called to active duty in the Korean conflict. My family lived in San Diego, CA at the time. I remember excitedly getting into our car to head for the base when suddently I realized my father (who drove me to the Marine Recruit Depot in San Diego) was slumped over the steering wheel, crying uncontrollably…his son…his first-born…was headed for military training–possibly to combat in Korea.

    He soon composed himself and we experienced a gut-wrenching goodbye. Then I turned toward a life for which a naive Arkansas kid was totally unprepared. After a few weeks of training our drill instructors took all the recruits to a movie, “The Sands of Iwo Jima” with John Wayne. Honestly, up to that point in my training the DI’s had managed to dehumanize and prepare me to do anything it took to defeat the enemy.

    There were no lights on the parade ground as my platoon marched back to the barracks that night. The driving force of 160 heels biting into the asphalt tarmack were the only sounds heard by the men. Even the DI’s were not counting cadence. I could not see the back of the head of the man in front of me yet, I could visualize the face of every man in that platoon!

    That’s when it all “clicked” for me. I realized this training would someday save or end my life…most of these 79 men would serve with me and we would depend upon each other in great moments of crisis.

    That “moment of truth” has stood me well through the course of these 74 years of my life. To my knowledge I have never seen one of those men since then. God moved me out of combat training, eventually into service as a Chaplain’s Assistant gaining invaluable experience for the ministry God had for me years down the road. But that ‘midnight moment’ on the parade ground that night was a life-defining moment for me.

    Semper Fi

    Semper Fi

15. admin Says:
    May 26th, 2007 at 10:45 am

    James…thank you for telling your story. We all have prayed for you and hope you are doing better. Your account of that night is very moving. It helps me imagine what our troops are experiencing now. Thank you for serving our country. Our prayers are with you and Shirley.

    God Bless America!

    Pastor PJ / The Prophets
    www.pauljacksongroup.com

16. Don Richards Says:
    May 29th, 2007 at 8:56 am

    Jimmy:

    A close friend and I went to the National Cementary here in Little Rock Monday. As we walked the grounds, it was sobering and moving moment thinking about each of these markers and the stories around each one some running from the Civil War all the way to Vietnam. Reading your story really brings this experiece to another level knowing your father is buried there.

17. Jimmy Pierce Says:
    May 29th, 2007 at 5:44 pm

    Don
    I know what you mean. I go out there knowing my dad is in Heaven but I look at the different headstones and see people from when I was a kid and knowing that I had known them personally. I have even seen some I went to school with that went to Vietnam and didn’t make it back. And now friends of friends that went to Iraq. Sometimes people ask me where my dad is and I can say his headstone is in section 19 ,5th row back and 5th from the far side. And when he was buried he was the last headstone for a little while. Then the yard got full and now they are burying the soldiers out by the North Littlel Rock Airport. I thank God for our fathers and friends.

18. Janie Elton Says:
    May 29th, 2007 at 9:29 pm

    DON R., JIMMY P. AND BRENDA A.
    I thought of all of you, my ARC Friends, on Monday and thanked God for all of you who have served our wonderful country. My heart goes out to all of you that has lost a loved one serving their country.
    Don, I am sure it was very touching to walk the grounds of the National Cemetary. I have never been, but would love to do so someday.

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