Today is the 11th day of the 11th month, the 91st anniversary of the day the guns fell silent in the War To End All Wars.
We are the Dead. Short days agoAny veterans in the Boston Metrowest area who would like a beer, courtesy all of the bushel baskets of cash Borepatch gets from the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy, email me at borepatch at gmail dot com.
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
It's been quite a while since I watched any PBS TV, but tonight on POV they are running The Way We Get By, about the greeters who meet the returning troop flights in Bangor, Maine. For years, they've been on call 24x7, meeting Our Boys (and Girls) at all hours of the day or night. 900,000 troops, getting a hero's welcome in a small airport in a small city. It's an amazing story.
The Way We Get By - Trailer from The Way We Get By on Vimeo.
Show information here.
Hat tip: Dad. Happy Veteran's Day, Dad!
A few years ago when my brother-in-law returned from his first tour in Iraq we were quite happy that he would land in Bangor on his way back to Colorado Springs so that we could go and see him on his journey home.
ReplyDeleteI had heard of the troop greeters before but I really didn't know much about them. A handshake with a heartfelt "Welcome home!" a bite to eat and a phone to call home doesn't seem like much to offer, but the weight of such a simple gift increases a hundredfold when you're offering it to someone who is stepping back on to American soil for the first time when coming home from war. I am so very glad that there is such a group of people in Bangor to extend this welcome. It truly is something to experience, I can't even write about it here without tearing up.
Good find! I'll have to check that out!
ReplyDeleteKen Burns' documentary had an interesting story. There was a town in Montana, I believe, thta met every single train carrying troops through it. Every single one. With food. Both outgoing and incoming trains. That's dedication as well.
ReplyDelete