Posted on 10/31/2004 9:59:51 PM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
Two things always bring a tear to my eye. One is witnessing the birth of a new baby, and the other is voting. From my earliest childhood, I remember my Dad taking me to vote, explaining everything, then asking me to step outside.
"Voting is private, Dixie. It's no one's business who you vote for," he'd say, and I'd stand aside while the large gray curtains closed around him. One day, I'd be old enough to vote. I'd get to stand inside the curtain.
The other day, I went to vote early. Two trips to one polling place frustrated me with long lines. So the third time I went to the Tracy Gee Community Center near Richmond at West Belt.
There wasn't much of a wait inside a modern, fluorescently lit building. It was just enough to pass the time of day with a trim, older gentleman there to help befuddled voters.
I wore my chambray shirt festooned with American flags and fireworks. He had on a red, white and blue flag tie that echoed the snowy white of his hair.
"I like your shirt," he said with a slightly shy smile.
"I like your tie," I replied. "Where did you get it?"
"Thanks, Ronald Reagan gave it to me."
The conversation was on. I'm nosy, though I prefer to call myself curious. He said President Reagan had given him the tie in the 1980s as a reward for political service. He allowed that he wore the tie when he worked the polls, though sometimes he wore his own flag shirt. His wife had embroidered the American flag on the back.
"She's English. They like needlework," he said.
It was as I suspected. He'd found her in England during World War II. They've been together a lifetime now. He volunteered nothing about his war service. His generation doesn't. But I knew there was a story there. So I kept asking questions.
Long story short, he was on the crew of a B-24, the Flying Boxcar. His was a long-range strategic bomber that flew as high as 45,000 feet. He flew 49 missions over Europe.
"Ever get shot at?" I asked.
"Oh, every time. We always came back with at least a few holes," he said.
I winced. I get nervous when a 777 hits a little turbulence.
"How did you stand it?"
"The airplane was just so great. Very airworthy. It just kept flying, no matter what. The wings were so long, you see, that even with our huge loads, we were going to stay aloft."
"But you flew 49 missions, not 50."
"Yep. The last mission they blew off part of a wing. We made it home though. Great pilot." He smiled and gave a nod toward the voting area.
It was my turn to vote.
I looked at the woman sitting at the Dell computer. I was back in today's world. I offered her my ID. Normally, I'd have said, "I'd like to vote, please." After what I'd just heard, something else came out of my mouth.
"I'm here to claim my right to vote."
There were no gray curtains, just little computers with dials and buttons. I realized I vote not for candidates, but for principles. I vote because I can. I vote on behalf of all the people who don't get to. I vote for women around the world whose lives are not their own, whose voices are silenced. I vote on behalf of all the souls who've perished under political despots.
Most of all though, I vote for the man in the flag tie. If he could risk his life to secure my right to vote, the least I can do is show up and do it.
On the way out, I stopped to speak to my old soldier.
"Thank you," I said, tears welling in my eyes. "You literally made today possible for me."
"Thank you for coming out to vote," he said. And then my hero shook my hand.
Swanson, a Houstonian, is a retired pediatrician. She can be e-mailed at drdixies@houston.rr.com.
Wonderful!..Wonder who she voted for?...;)
You just made tears come to my eyes.Great read.
Re: "Wonder how she voted?"
Don't know. Her business, like she says. Wouldn't have it any other way. But it is hard to imagine someone who would express her sentiments voting for a scumbag like Kerry.
What is sad is that there was a time, not so long ago, when the parties differed on economic policy, tax policy, even social policy. But even the "pro-war" democrats were pro-American. I despised McGovern's politics and rejoiced when he lost. But I could have looked the man in the eye, shook his hand, and thanked him for his service as a bomber pilot in WWII -- and meant every word. (I was in the service then.)
But I think I would cut off my own right hand before I'd shake Kerry's for any reason.
RE last: Oops Sorry -- typo -- meant "anti-war" democrats, not "pro-war"
Ping! Don't miss this article!
Great article! Thanks for sharing!
http://www.betrayed-vietnam-vet.info/
Some people look forward to turning 18 because they can buy tobacco, purchase porn, etc, but being able to vote was the greatest present on my 18th birthday I could get. And one from Uncle Sam, ironically enough.
HOUSTON PING
I would self-amputate if I even came into contact with such an empty vessel, lest I be contaminated by whatever has eroded his humanity...
the infowarrior
Brought tears to my eyes. Very good.
ping
"Voting is private, Dixie. It's no one's business who you vote for," he'd say,
This is the way I was brought up.....and I dislike all the polls and exit polls we have today. Just tally and report!
Bump!
Her piece here is very well-written. Woven together beautifully....she seriously needs to put in more op ed pieces...(sounds like this was just a submission).
I agree.
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