Remember our Heroes

So many people go about their daily lives, worrying about dinner and complaining about their jobs, not really thinking about the men and women who put their lives on the line every. single. day. Those of us who have served or who have family members serving tend to have those realities a little closer to home, and this week was no exception.


This will seem like a tangent, but please bear with me. I listen to 99.5 The Wolf here in Portland. They have been running a contest to see who can sing like Taylor Swift. Well, a week or two ago, a lady here in Portland sent in a video...it was of her two sons and three of his fellow Marines sitting in a military vehicle while serving in (I believe) Afghanistan. They were singing "like" Taylor Swift. It's a cute video, and it's neat to see these guys having a little fun. To see the video, click HERE.


But. I was driving to work today and listening to the Mike & Amy show on the Wolf, when they got an email with "an unusual request". It was the same mother, writing in to say that a 22-year-old Marine, a friend of all the guys in the video, was buried yesterday in Arlington National Cemetery. The song "Chicken Fried" by the Zac Brown Band (http://www.cmt.com/videos/zac-brown-band/289363/chicken-fried.jhtml?id=3096016) was played at his funeral - apparently, it was this young Marine's favorite song. So, the email requested that the song be played this morning on the radio, not only as a tribute to him but as a remembrance for his friends who are grieving.


Even closer to home, last Thursday evening a CG C-130 out of Sacramento went down during a search for a missing boater. They collided with a Marine helicopter heading out to San Clemente Island. No one knows why, or what happened, but the Coast Guard family lost 7 people last week, and the Marines lost 2 more. To the best of my knowledge, no bodies have been recovered. The memorial service for the fallen Guardians is tomorrow.


It's been a tragic week - one story has been reported more than the other, but both include the tragic loss of life for people who died in the service of our country. Both stories include grieving friends and family, trying to make sense out of something that, fundamentally, may never truly be able to be comprehended.


So - I beg of you all. While you're rushing around, complaining about traffic or the latest clown in front of you at the grocery store/bank/post office...Please. Stop. Take a moment. Take a deep breath. Think about your good health, your friends and family, the roof over your head - then try to remember that not everyone is as lucky as you are, and some people have new holes in their hearts that may or may not ever truly heal. Then put a smile on your face, the biggest one you can find. See how fast that smile brightens someone else's day - including yours.

And while you're at it - say a prayer for all of our men and women, past and present, who have been willing to put their lives on the line. They, and their families, sacrifice so much...and if you ever get the chance - say thank you. It truly means a lot.