65 years ago today the United States demonstrated the power of science by splitting uranium-235 atoms over the city of Hiroshima. It was one of those moments in history that are tragic, devastating, and for right or wrong, believed to be necessary by those in power at the time.
For some reason, this reminds me of Blake. Blake is the young husband of a very good friend's daughter, and he's a Marine on his first deployment in Afghanistan. The first week Blake was there, one of his friends was killed. Just last week, another of his buddies lost both legs to an IED. We are praying for Blake's safety.
All of which brings me to today's post, which many of you have probably already seen. I've seen it in several places, and it's been sent to me by several of you, as well.
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FRIDAY MORNINGS AT THE PENTAGON
by James Galloway, McClatchy Newspapers
written for Memorial Day, 2007
This week, I'm turning my space over to a good friend and former roommate, Army Lieutenant Colonel Robert Bateman, who recently completed a yearlong tour of duty in Iraq and is now back at the Pentagon.
It is 110 yards from the "E" ring to the "A" ring of the Pentagon. This section of the Pentagon is newly renovated; the floors shine, the hallway is broad, and the lighting is bright. At this instant the entire length of the corridor is packed with officers, a few sergeants and some civilians, all crammed tightly three and four deep against the walls. There are thousands there.
This hallway, more than any other, is the "Army" hallway. The G3 offices line one side, G2 the other, G8 is around the corner. All Army. Moderate conversations flow in a low buzz. Friends who may not have seen each other for a few weeks, or a few years, spot each other, cross the way and renew.
Everyone shifts to ensure an open path remains down the center. The air conditioning system was not designed for the press of bodies in this area. The temperature is rising already. Nobody cares.
10:36 hours. The clapping starts at the E-Ring. That is the outermost of the five rings of the Pentagon and it is closest to the entrance of the building. This clapping is low, sustained, hearty. It is applause with a deep emotion behind it as it moves forward in a wave down the length of the hallway.
A steady rolling wave of sound it is, moving at the pace of the soldier in the wheelchair who marks the forward edge with his presence. He is the first. He is missing the greater part of one leg, and some of his wounds are still suppurating. By his age I expect that he is a private, or perhaps a private first class.
Captains, majors, lieutenant colonels and colonels meet his gaze and nod as they applaud, soldier to soldier. Three years ago when I described one of these events, those lining the hallways were somewhat different. The applause a little wilder, perhaps in private guilt for not having shared in the burden ... yet.
Now almost everyone lining the hallway is, like the man in the wheelchair, also a combat veteran. This steadies the applause, but I think deepens the sentiment. We have all been there now. The soldier's chair is pushed by, I believe, a full colonel.
Behind him, and stretching the length from Rings E to A, come more of his peers, each private, corporal, or sergeant assisted as need be by a field grade officer.
11:00 hours. Twenty-four minutes of steady applause. My hands hurt, and I laugh to myself at how stupid that sounds in my own head. My hands hurt. Please! Shut up and clap. For twenty-four minutes, soldier after soldier has come down this hallway - 20, 25, 30. Fifty-three legs come with them, and perhaps only 52 hands or arms, but down this hall come 30 solid hearts.
They pass down this corridor of officers and applause, and then meet for a private lunch, at which they are the guests of honor, hosted by the generals. Some are wheeled along. Some insist upon getting out of their chairs, to march as best they can with their chin held up, down this hallway, through this most unique audience. Some are catching handshakes and smiling like a politician at a Fourth of July parade. More than a couple of them seem amazed and are smiling shyly.
There are families with them as well ... the 18-year old war bride pushing her 19-year old husband's wheelchair and not quite understanding why her husband is so affected by this, the boy she grew up with, now a man, who had never shed a tear is crying; the older immigrant Latino parents who have, perhaps more than their wounded mid-20s son, an appreciation for the emotion given on their son's behalf.
No man in that hallway, walking or clapping, is ashamed by the silent tears on more than a few cheeks. An Airborne Ranger wipes his eyes only to better see. A couple of the officers in this crowd have themselves been a part of this parade in the past.
These are our men, broken in body they may be, but they are our brothers, and we welcome them home. This parade has gone on, every single Friday, all year long, for more than four years.
[first submitted by list member Lavonne T.; slightly abridged by Mark Raymond]
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WEBSITE of the WEEK: At http://www.snopes.com, you will have to put up with a popup window or two (it's how they pay for the site), but I have found them to be the best place to determine truth from urban legend, which is rampant on the Web. Their findings on this story are "undetermined," but I was able to track down the McClatchy newspaper website and verify this column was, indeed, written. Check the link in red at the beginning of the column.
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