A Stirring Spontaneous Tribute Inside A Crowded Airport
It was a just small moment in time, but one that offered a statement about our times and the confluence of events that engulf the history that we are living.
I’m home now, but this past weekend I found myself in the Atlanta airport, sitting in an oval area, a food court surrounded by stores. Suddenly, I heard applause. It was the kind of celebratory and congratulatory ovation that you might hear after a concert, or perhaps as a stirring tribute.
That is exactly what it was.
Much to my surprise, a group of soldiers wearing the now familiar combat fatigues that we associate with the desert, paraded through the food court area. They walked in a single file enroute to the security area and to flights destined for their homes around the country.
Almost everyone in that section of the airport was on their feet, staring at the soldiers, their hands clapping harder and harder, their faces lit up with smiles.
The soldiers, looking a little uncomfortable, smiled back and waved.
Several of the men and women were later lining up for the security check. The lines were long at Atlanta airport in this beginning of the busiest travel week of the year. The soldiers, although short on details, were arriving home from Iraq. They must have been thrilled and a bit surprised to hear the sounds of applause on their arrival back in the country.
It was so heartening to see the natural outburst of applause. After all, the war has been a problem from the beginning and the recriminations and blame assessments continue to escalate.
But through it all, from “mission accomplished†to the bloody civil unrest, our soldiers have been on the job. Whether they should be there is a question will be left to the politicians who sent them there, and to those insisting that they come home.
But on one Sunday afternoon, in the middle of a congested airport, it was thrilling and hopeful to see the spontaneity of the welcome. It was also fascinating to see that Americans can differentiate between political debates, and the people whose job it is to be trapped in the combat of an unpopular war.
We’ve come a long way in this country. Unlike the rage of the sixties, people can make a clear distinction between the wars we wage, the people who run them from their lofty heights, and the men and women with true grit who lived the consequences each and every day.
Comments(1)
We have come a long way as a nation when it comes to appreciation and respect for those who wear the uniform, especially during times of conflict. I entered the Army during the Vietnam era, and recal many people whom I know that were jeered or spit upon – as if to say that Vietnam was THEIR fault. Many of those folks were drafted, but there were volunteers in service then, as well.
How superb a testimony it is that Mr. and Mrs. America will take a few seconds to show personal gratitude to our men and women in uniform for their sacrifices.
I go out of my way, when I see a member of the Armed Forces to just tell them, ‘Thank You for your service. God Bless and Protect You!”.
That small act will be remembered and cherished by these folks, so, regardless of your political leaning or feeling about the military in general, take a few seconds to thank a Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine, Coast Guardsman or even Transportation Security Administration official.