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Best Email Of The Day

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posted on Dec, 8 2011 @ 06:53 PM
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I got this email today, and reading it made me cry. So, I shamelessly copied it and pasted it here for you all to enjoy.
**************************************
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 I went 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 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 IS NOT free. Thousands have paid the price, so you can enjoy what you have today.
**************
Let us never forget our soldiers, and never forget what they gave for us. Thank a Soldier, a Sailor, an Airman, shake their hand and tell them they are appreciated.



posted on Dec, 8 2011 @ 07:16 PM
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That was so beautiful! Thanks for sharing such a heartfelt story.



posted on Dec, 8 2011 @ 07:18 PM
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reply to post by autowrench
 

Fabulous story. Another post on here educated me on exactly what that medal means (I am not American btw) and they don't give those out to just anyone.

This might also have been some kind of synchronicity but in any case, glad to hear the brothers worked it out. Personally I tend to prefer the company of older people. They are more in touch with...reality and feelings. Thanks for posting



posted on Dec, 8 2011 @ 07:41 PM
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reply to post by autowrench
 


I'm not buying it.
An old WW2 marine not knowing anything about a vehicle?
My Grandpa was a 27 year vet, and he still tinkers on his old fords in the driveway.
But I do believe any service man or woman would drop anything to help another, young or old.
While I do not agree with what our company is using our boys to do, I do understand our boys are being lied to and are just as much victim as the people they bomb.
The email just sounds too nationalistic to be anything but.



posted on Dec, 8 2011 @ 08:08 PM
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reply to post by autowrench
 


Bravo brother! That was awesome and damn near brought a tear to my eye. These people have no clue how tough the world was when these men left their families to fight in a World War, not knowing if they would ever be seen again. And those battles were all a b$#@^ to put it mildly. A lot of the young have no respect for these older wiser men that know more about Honor, Freedom, the Constitution, and what it really means to be an American. History is lost on most of these kids. However, there are a lot of them that may change the views and knowledge of the peers when they come back from war in the middle east.

Thanks for relating that story!




edit on 8/12/11 by spirit_horse because: typos



posted on Dec, 8 2011 @ 08:16 PM
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reply to post by g146541
 


May I ask you to please reexamine yourself? Complaining that the story is false because he should have known about engines seems like complaining about Michaelangelo's David because one toe nail is improbably long.

Even if the story isn't true, you've blinded yourself to the beauty and significance of it. I'm sorry you can't appreciate it. I honestly and humbly suggest that you find out why you are as you are.

By the way, small point, but I don't see "nationalistic" at all. This story could have been told in any country. If you have to use a word to condemn it, well, I don't know what word would be appropriate. I can't think of one.



posted on Dec, 8 2011 @ 10:26 PM
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I love these storys... people are jerks these days... my cousin had a school play today, and I wasn't sure which building it was in.. I asked some guy for help and he ignored me and just walked away... anyway thanks for sharing.



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