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Masters of Hard Knocks from the University of Gravity
 
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I don't know if this really happened but I'd like to believe it did.
From a Chaplain in Iraq:
I recently attended a showing of 'Superman 3,' here at LSA Anaconda. We have a large auditorium we use for movies, as well as memorial services and other large gatherings. As is the custom back in the States, we stood and snapped to attention when the National Anthem began before the main feature. All was going as planned until about three-quarters of the way through The National Anthem the music stopped.
Now, what would happen if this occurred with 1,000 18-22 year-olds back in the States? I imagine there would be hoots, catcalls, laughter, a few rude comments; and everyone would sit down and call for a movie. Of course, that is, if they had stood for the National Anthem in the first place. Here, the 1,000 Soldiers continued to stand at attention, eyes fixed forward. The music started again. The Soldiers continued to quietly stand at attention. And again, at the same point, the music stopped.
What would you expect to happen? Even here I would imagine laughter, as everyone finally sat down and expected the movie to start. But here, you could have heard a pin drop. Every Soldier continued to stand at attention. Suddenly there was a lone voice, then a dozen, and quickly the room was filled with the voices of a thousand soldiers, finishing where the recording left off:
'And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night, that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave,
O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave.'
It was the most inspiring moment I have had here in Iraq. I wanted you to know what kind of Soldiers are serving you here. Remember them as they fight for you! Pass this along as a reminder to others to be ever in prayer for all our soldiers serving us here at home and abroad. For many have already paid the ultimate price.
Written by
Chaplain Jim Higgins
LSA Anaconda
Balad Airport in Iraq , north of Baghdad
'It takes courage to have faith'
"Si Vis Pacum Para Bellum"
If you want peace prepare for war!
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HH6/Resident Beerwench
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It did! And it is a great story.| U.S. Soldiers in Iraq Sing the National Anthem in a Movie Theater-Truth! | |
Summary of the eRumor:
The eRumor is identified as from a U.S. military chaplain in Iraq. He explains that the National Anthem is played before every film in a military theater while soldiers stand at attention. The chaplain describes an incident in Iraq when the National Anthem was playing before "Superman 3." One-thousand soldiers were all standing at attention but the recording stopped. They all continued to stand at attention. The music started again, but stopped again. Then one of them started singing and the others joined in to complete the Anthem. The chaplain contrasts that response to what might have happened in a typical theater in the United States and comments, " I wanted you to know what kind of Soldiers are serving you here." | | The Truth:
This story is true.
It's from the pen of Army Reserve Chaplain Jim Higgins who, when he is not deployed, is Senior Pastor of McEachern Memorial United Methodist Church, located in Powder Springs, Georgia.
This event took place in May, 2007 while he was stationed at Camp Anaconda, which is a large U.S. base near Balad, one of the largest airbases in Iraq. |
- "Hundreds of thousands of American servicemen and women are deployed across the world in the war on terror. By bringing hope to the oppressed, and delivering justice to the violent, they are making America more secure. "
George W. Bush
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Regular Joe
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The real issue is why the hell don't the troops have better movies to watch. Superman III?! What, Goonies was already out! I'm sending my copy of American Psycho overseas as soon as I get home, along with Fight Club.
I lack people-skills.
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Green GI
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| Honestly this makes me proud to be an american and an american soldier. It also reminds me of a time when I was still in high school. I was a Senior and it was 2004 I played football all four years and my assistant coach who was a USMC veteran of Korea always made us practice the day before the game exactly how we would warm up pre-game to the point where we all had to line up on the sideline and sing the national anthem. for my first 3 years we did not have a permanent flag pole they would put a PVC pipe with the flag on it up for the Game. then the spring before my senior year An Air Force Combat controller was killed in Afghanistan, TSGT John Chapman he graduated from my school about ten years before and the school put up a flagpole permanently in his honor and our coach, the combat veteran, would always make us sing to Tsgt. Chapman's flagpole and would emphasize his sacrifice every week. We were palying our last game, it was an away game and the music started and the sound system cut out. My team didn't miss a beat we sang loud and proud and according to some fans we were actually good too. It is not as large or grand as 1000 soldiers in a combat zone but it was born from the same metal. I will always remember and I am genuinely proud to be an american, an american soldier and an american parartrooper. God Bless
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Kilted Texas Paratrooper & E-7 for LIFE
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I had a hard time reading the end of the story,, my vision was blurry and eyes mysteriously wet.
Tex out,
"Consensous is the Absence of Leadership" Margaret Thatcher
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Regular Joe
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ABNSFC_TEX (8/15/2008)
I had a hard time reading the end of the story,, my vision was blurry and eyes mysteriously wet.Strangly, it was the same way here with me.
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