Applause in the Airport? Beyond the Beer Commercial ... It Happens ... It Really Happens

Agape Press ^ | 02/10/05 | Matt Friedman, Ph.D.

[tsmith130]

Mod note: One for the troops! Bumped to BN for more exposure.

(AgapePress) - Rick from Winona, Mississippi, called my state-wide talk radio program this week. Sometimes, you get a phone call that ought to be read in the broader market.

On the program that day we were discussing the report that some Europeans were disgusted with the Super Bowl commercial of American soldiers getting applause in an airport. The critics thought it too extreme in its patriotism and a possible incitement to further war.

At any rate, Rick (he asked us not to use his full name) called to talk about his experience coming back recently from the fields of war. His words (and they are worth your time reading, only lightly edited):

"I heard you talking about the Super Bowl commercial. I'm a Marine, a re-con Marine. I just got back from overseas, the second week of December, actually. I was injured overseas, so that's why I'm home now.

"But the whole time I was [there, in recovery] we watched the news to see what's going on. And we saw the protests, and we saw what the media was saying about what's going on, and we were worried about what we were actually going to face when we came home. We didn't know what to expect, to be honest with you. From the news media we were seeing, the whole country was basically telling us we're a bunch of jerks.

"I thank God that the troops that are there don't see the news coverage. I thank God every day, because there'd be ten times the number getting killed, just because it would so un-motivate [sic] them.

"Back to the story: there were seven other soldiers that came home with me that day. We flew into JFK, and we were talking on the way back: What's going to happen? What will we be facing? Is it going to be like the Vietnam era, are there going to be people spitting at us?

"We didn't know. We had that much trepidation about it.

"We get into JFK, we step out of the breezeway into the main terminal, and directly in front of us was an elderly gentleman carrying a bag. And he immediately stopped, set his bag down, and the first thing we all thought was, 'Oh, Lord, here we go already.' He just stopped and looked at us for a second, and then tears came to his eyes and he saluted us.

"And -- I'm breaking up now [editor's note: with tears] -- every one of us just started crying like babies. Everybody in the terminal -- I kid you not, at least two to three hundred people -- just started clapping, spontaneously. To me, it was so much worth what we were doing, to realize that people over here actually get what we were doing. We weren't over there because it's fun. We're over there doing a job.

"When I saw the Super Bowl commercial, I just started bawling like a baby again because that was something totally unexpected. We had no idea that people actually appreciated what we're doing, from what we see on the news. We thought we were going to come back and get eggs thrown at us. It was so refreshing to know that what we were seeing on the news is just a bunch of garbage that's being concocted by the media, that 99.9 percent of the country doesn't believe that way.

"I have a couple of more months of recovery. I got hit with a concussion and have some internal damage, but I'm feeling up, doing well, and hopefully I can get back over there with my boys."

It caused some tears in this talk show host's eyes to know there were tears in his. Appreciation, smiles, handclaps -- they can go a long way when a nation is at war, regardless of what the media and some Europeans might think.

Matt Friedeman (mfriedeman@wbs.edu) is a professor at Wesley Biblical Seminary. Respond to this column at his blog at "In the Fight."

[nevergore]

Geez...they probabaly didn't realize some Marines could read (Big Grin)...

Former Squid....

NeverGore :^)

[Tolik]

Moral Clarity BUMP !

This ping list is not author-specific for articles I'd like to share. Some for perfect moral clarity, some for provocative thoughts; or simply interesting articles I'd hate to miss myself. (I don't have to agree with the author 100% to feel the need to share an article.) I will try not to abuse the ping list and not to annoy you too much, but on some days there is more of good stuff that is worthy attention. I keep separate PING lists for my favorite authors Victor Davis Hanson, Lee Harris, David Warren, Orson Scott Card. You are welcome in or out, just freepmail me (and note which PING list you are talking about).

[MoodyBlu]

Great story. As an Air Force dependent, I made that same flight from Yakota to Travis in 72. We stopped in Anchorage and I vividly remember all of the soldiers on the plane from Viet Nam. Thank you for your service!

MoodyBlu

[CSM]

Blurry screen ping!

[tsmith130]

Then let me take this opportunity to applaud you, gratefully welcome you home, and sincerely thank you for your service, robowombat!

[Warrior_Queen]

My friend, I was very young during VietNam. I know it's 30+ years too late but "Welcome Home" and THANK YOU!!!

[katana]

but I'm feeling up

His nurses must be very understanding.

Just kidding.

CNN and the other networks should be prosecuted for sedition.

Not kidding.

[dangus]

I know I've applauded the troops at BWI on several occasions.

[SunTzuWu]

That was my favorite Super bowl commercial. It brought tears to my eyes then and now. I am so disgusted with the MSM I don't know what to do.

[Allegra]

"And -- I'm breaking up now [editor's note: with tears] -- every one of us just started crying like babies. Everybody in the terminal -- I kid you not, at least two to three hundred people -- just started clapping, spontaneously. To me, it was so much worth what we were doing, to realize that people over here actually get what we were doing. We weren't over there because it's fun. We're over there doing a job.

This is wonderful and heartwarming. And damn the media for making these guys even have any question as to how they'll be greeted or how the American public preceives them.

I make a point of telling our troops how much support they have back home, and after reading this, I will step up my efforts in that category another notch.

Damn the media.

[dangus]

I've seen (and been in) simply spontaneous applause. Just a handful of GIs going through the gate...

A little less so now, probably just because the raw emotions have subsided.

[Kennesaw]

BTTT

[Budge]

Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!

For the heros returning home!

[day10]

You better believe it happens! This past Christmas Eve my boys and I were on the way to Florida to see my parents and had a layover in Atlanta - Hartsfield. While waiting at our gate a large group of soldiers came in at the gate next to us. Pretty much everyone waiting at our gate got up and gave them a long round of applause.

The soldiers were very gracious. My boys are 9 and 7 and they were very wide eyed - this was a big deal to them. They shook hands with several of the soldiers and, of course, this was a great opportunity for Dad to reinforce the "important things in life".

[ElPatriota]

, I can understand that happening in an airport. If the idea of a soldier putting his LIFE on the line for you, us, does not move you (to tears), then you must be a Democrat! :-[

[Guenevere]

Patriotic bttt!

[elfman2]

Thanks

[MEG33]

I know it's overdue but..Welcome Home..Thank you for serving our country.

[Stonewall Jackson]

My father was flying back to Kentucky last year on a business trip on a plane that was carrying eight or nine National Guardsmen returning from Iraq. One of the businessmen also on the flight offered to buy them a round of drinks, but the flight crew assured him that all of their drinks were on the house.

[spodefly]

BTTT