I choked up when I read this
Charlene.....Oklahoma Strangers Are Friends.....Not Yet Met To See GOD'S Wonders.....Travel 2011 34ft TARRA Class A Motor Home > > >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 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 and 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 told the old >man That I would be right back. >I drove to the station and went inside and saw three attendants working on >cars. I approached one of them and related the problem the old man had with >his car and 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 and 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....... ‘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 it was an honor to have been in his presence. >Remember, OLD men like him gave you FREEDOM for America Thanks to those who >served...& those who supported 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 you can enjoy >what you have today. > > > > > > > >
