mikewint
Captain
agreed, one and all, this thread is like "reflections", i can only take it in small doses
Some pics of inspiration
- Thread starter Njaco
- Start date
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mikewint
Captain
vikingBerserker
Lieutenant General
Gees, if these don't put a lump in your throat you're dead.
Nicely done fellas.
Nicely done fellas.
RabidAlien
1st Lieutenant
Love the multi-exposure at....Arlington? If it were me taking the pic, I'd've had the two figures facing the tombstones, not each other, but still, its a great shot.
mikewint
Captain
RA, my interpretation of this painting is along the lines of Trace Atkins song "Arlington" one of the sailors is welcoming a new arrival. Almost bought this if it had been two soldiers, one modern, one from WWII or WWI
RabidAlien
1st Lieutenant
Yeah, I figured it was something like that. I've had an idea or two for similar photos, though, but never really got the hang of double-exposure pics. Also, never knew anybody who would agree to pose for me.
mikewint
Captain
RA, that's 'cause you keep saying "STRIP sweetheart"
That is a really moving shot 
RabidAlien
1st Lieutenant
mikewint
Captain
Matt308
Glock Perfection
I have walked through Arlington many times. Cried most.
mikewint
Captain
a haunting place to say the least, like the wall, only in small doses
Matt308
Glock Perfection
Amen, Brother. Amen.
Aaron Brooks Wolters
Brigadier General
A friend sent this to me today and it seems to me this is the best place for it. If not please have one of the Mods move it.
THE OLD MAN
As I came out of the supermarket that sunny day, pushing my cart of groceries
towards my car, I saw an old man with the hood of his car up and a lady sitting
inside the car, with the door open.
The old man was looking at the engine. I put my groceries away in my car, and
continued to watch the old gentleman from about twenty five feet away.
I saw a young man in his early twenties with a grocery bag in his arm walking
towards the old man. The old gentleman saw him coming too, and took a few steps
towards him.
I saw the old gentleman point to his open hood and say something. The young man put
his grocery bag into what looked like a brand new Cadillac Escalade. He then turned
back to the old man. I heard him yell at the old gentleman saying:
'You shouldn't even be allowed to drive a car at your age.' And then with a wave of
his hand, he got in his car and peeled rubber out of the parking lot.
I saw the old gentleman pull out his handkerchief, and mop his brow as he went back
to his car and again looked at the engine.
He then went to his wife and spoke with her; he appeared to tell her it would be
okay. I had seen enough, and I approached the old man. He saw me coming and stood
straight, and as I got near him I said, 'Looks like you're having a problem.'
He smiled sheepishly, and quietly nodded his head. I looked under the hood myself,
and knew that whatever the problem was, it was beyond me. Looking around, I saw a
gas station up the road, and I told the old man that I would be right back. I drove
to the station and went I inside. I saw three attendants working on cars. I
approached one of them, and related the problem the old man had with his car. I
offered to pay them if they could follow me back down and help him.
The old man had pushed the heavy car under the shade of a tree and appeared to be
comforting his wife When he saw us he straightened up and thanked me for my help. As
the mechanics diagnosed the problem (overheated engine), I spoke with the old
gentleman.
When I shook hands with him earlier, he had noticed my Marine Corps ring and had
commented about it, telling me that he had been a Marine too. I nodded and asked the
usual question, 'What outfit did you serve with?'
He had mentioned that he served with the first Marine Division at Tarawa, Saipan,
Iwo Jima and Guadalcanal ....
He had hit all the big ones and retired from the Corps after the war was over. As we
talked we heard the car engine come on and saw the mechanics lower the hood. They
came over to us as the old man reached for his wallet, but was stopped by me. I told
him I would just put the bill on my AAA card.
He still reached for the wallet and handed me a card that I assumed had his name and
address on it and I stuck it in my pocket. We all shook hands all around again, and
I said my goodbye's to his wife.
I then told the two mechanics that I would follow them back up to the station. Once
at the station, I told them that they had interrupted their own jobs to come along
with me and help the old man. I said I wanted to pay for the help, but they refused
to charge me
One of them pulled out a card from his pocket, looking exactly like the card the old
man had given to me. Both of the men told me then that they were Marine Corps
Reserves. Once again we shook hands all around and as I was leaving, one of them
told me I should look at the card the old man had given to me. I said I would and
drove off.
For some reason I had gone about two blocks, when I pulled over and took the card
out of my pocket and looked at it for a long, long time. The name of the old
gentleman was on the card in golden leaf and under his name was written:
'Congressional Medal of Honor Society.'
I sat there motionless, looking at the card and reading it over and over. I looked
up from the card and smiled to no one but myself and marveled that on this day, four
Marines had all come together because one of us needed help. He was an old man all
right, but it felt good to have stood next to greatness and courage, and an honor to
have been in his presence. Remember, OLD men like him gave you FREEDOM for America .
Thanks to those who served and still serve, and to all of those who supported them,
and who continue to support them.
America is not at war. The U.S. Military is at war. America is at the Mall. If you
don't stand behind our troops, PLEASE feel free to stand in front of them!
Remember, Freedom isn't Free. Thousands have paid the price, so that you can enjoy
what you have today.
LET'S DO THIS: JUST 19 WORDS:
GOD OUR FATHER, WALK THROUGH MY HOUSE AND TAKE AWAY ALL MY WORRIES; AND PLEASE WATCH
OVER AND HEAL MY FAMILY; AND PLEASE PROTECT OUR FREEDOMS, AND WATCH OVER OUR TROOPS,
WHO ARE DEFENDING THOSE FREEDOMS. AMEN
THE OLD MAN
As I came out of the supermarket that sunny day, pushing my cart of groceries
towards my car, I saw an old man with the hood of his car up and a lady sitting
inside the car, with the door open.
The old man was looking at the engine. I put my groceries away in my car, and
continued to watch the old gentleman from about twenty five feet away.
I saw a young man in his early twenties with a grocery bag in his arm walking
towards the old man. The old gentleman saw him coming too, and took a few steps
towards him.
I saw the old gentleman point to his open hood and say something. The young man put
his grocery bag into what looked like a brand new Cadillac Escalade. He then turned
back to the old man. I heard him yell at the old gentleman saying:
'You shouldn't even be allowed to drive a car at your age.' And then with a wave of
his hand, he got in his car and peeled rubber out of the parking lot.
I saw the old gentleman pull out his handkerchief, and mop his brow as he went back
to his car and again looked at the engine.
He then went to his wife and spoke with her; he appeared to tell her it would be
okay. I had seen enough, and I approached the old man. He saw me coming and stood
straight, and as I got near him I said, 'Looks like you're having a problem.'
He smiled sheepishly, and quietly nodded his head. I looked under the hood myself,
and knew that whatever the problem was, it was beyond me. Looking around, I saw a
gas station up the road, and I told the old man that I would be right back. I drove
to the station and went I inside. I saw three attendants working on cars. I
approached one of them, and related the problem the old man had with his car. I
offered to pay them if they could follow me back down and help him.
The old man had pushed the heavy car under the shade of a tree and appeared to be
comforting his wife When he saw us he straightened up and thanked me for my help. As
the mechanics diagnosed the problem (overheated engine), I spoke with the old
gentleman.
When I shook hands with him earlier, he had noticed my Marine Corps ring and had
commented about it, telling me that he had been a Marine too. I nodded and asked the
usual question, 'What outfit did you serve with?'
He had mentioned that he served with the first Marine Division at Tarawa, Saipan,
Iwo Jima and Guadalcanal ....
He had hit all the big ones and retired from the Corps after the war was over. As we
talked we heard the car engine come on and saw the mechanics lower the hood. They
came over to us as the old man reached for his wallet, but was stopped by me. I told
him I would just put the bill on my AAA card.
He still reached for the wallet and handed me a card that I assumed had his name and
address on it and I stuck it in my pocket. We all shook hands all around again, and
I said my goodbye's to his wife.
I then told the two mechanics that I would follow them back up to the station. Once
at the station, I told them that they had interrupted their own jobs to come along
with me and help the old man. I said I wanted to pay for the help, but they refused
to charge me
One of them pulled out a card from his pocket, looking exactly like the card the old
man had given to me. Both of the men told me then that they were Marine Corps
Reserves. Once again we shook hands all around and as I was leaving, one of them
told me I should look at the card the old man had given to me. I said I would and
drove off.
For some reason I had gone about two blocks, when I pulled over and took the card
out of my pocket and looked at it for a long, long time. The name of the old
gentleman was on the card in golden leaf and under his name was written:
'Congressional Medal of Honor Society.'
I sat there motionless, looking at the card and reading it over and over. I looked
up from the card and smiled to no one but myself and marveled that on this day, four
Marines had all come together because one of us needed help. He was an old man all
right, but it felt good to have stood next to greatness and courage, and an honor to
have been in his presence. Remember, OLD men like him gave you FREEDOM for America .
Thanks to those who served and still serve, and to all of those who supported them,
and who continue to support them.
America is not at war. The U.S. Military is at war. America is at the Mall. If you
don't stand behind our troops, PLEASE feel free to stand in front of them!
Remember, Freedom isn't Free. Thousands have paid the price, so that you can enjoy
what you have today.
LET'S DO THIS: JUST 19 WORDS:
GOD OUR FATHER, WALK THROUGH MY HOUSE AND TAKE AWAY ALL MY WORRIES; AND PLEASE WATCH
OVER AND HEAL MY FAMILY; AND PLEASE PROTECT OUR FREEDOMS, AND WATCH OVER OUR TROOPS,
WHO ARE DEFENDING THOSE FREEDOMS. AMEN
mikewint
Captain
great story Aaron, i guess that would be an example of telling a book by its cover
RabidAlien
1st Lieutenant
Dang. Goosebumps.
mikewint
Captain
WASHINGTON - In a ceremony that mixed pain, pride and determination, President Barack Obama on Wednesday awarded the Medal of Honor to a young Army Green Beret who saved his patrol by holding off a Taliban ambush in a snowy Afghan valley two winters ago.
Robert Miller was born on October 14, 1983, in Harrisburg, Pa. He graduated from Wheaton North High School, Wheaton IL. Shortly after his family moved to Oviedo, Florida, he enlisted in the United States Army as a Special Forces candidate in August 2003. He attended Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Benning, Georgia and later became a Green Beret in 2005. Staff Sergeant Miller served as a weapons sergeant in Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), which is based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
"His military decorations include: Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with 'V' Device, Army Good Conduct Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NATO Medal, Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab and Parachute Badge.
Miller, 24, was a Pashto-speaking Special Forces weapons expert who led a joint U.S.-Afghan patrol - and allied aircraft - in attacking a suspected Taliban compound in northwest Afghanistan's Kunar province, near the Pakistani border.
In pre-dawn darkness on Jan. 25, 2008, his patrol was moving in to survey the damage when a much larger Taliban force opened fire. After ordering his comrades to fall back, Miller rushed forward, firing his weapon and hurling grenades in a bid to draw off the enemy attack.
"The fighting was ferocious," Obama said, recounting the recollection of comrades who survived. "Rob seemed to disappear into clouds of dust and debris, but his team could hear him on the radio, still calling out the enemy's position ... And then, over the radio, they heard his voice. He had been hit."
Miller was killed in the ambush.
Robert Miller was born on October 14, 1983, in Harrisburg, Pa. He graduated from Wheaton North High School, Wheaton IL. Shortly after his family moved to Oviedo, Florida, he enlisted in the United States Army as a Special Forces candidate in August 2003. He attended Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Benning, Georgia and later became a Green Beret in 2005. Staff Sergeant Miller served as a weapons sergeant in Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), which is based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
"His military decorations include: Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with 'V' Device, Army Good Conduct Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NATO Medal, Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab and Parachute Badge.
Miller, 24, was a Pashto-speaking Special Forces weapons expert who led a joint U.S.-Afghan patrol - and allied aircraft - in attacking a suspected Taliban compound in northwest Afghanistan's Kunar province, near the Pakistani border.
In pre-dawn darkness on Jan. 25, 2008, his patrol was moving in to survey the damage when a much larger Taliban force opened fire. After ordering his comrades to fall back, Miller rushed forward, firing his weapon and hurling grenades in a bid to draw off the enemy attack.
"The fighting was ferocious," Obama said, recounting the recollection of comrades who survived. "Rob seemed to disappear into clouds of dust and debris, but his team could hear him on the radio, still calling out the enemy's position ... And then, over the radio, they heard his voice. He had been hit."
Miller was killed in the ambush.
Aaron Brooks Wolters
Brigadier General
