Semer Fi - And a tear in your eye

[Wardey]

Received this form a buddy of mine this am and wanted to share it:

Semper Fi - and a tear in you eye


SOME OF US WILL UNDERSTAND THIS MORE THAN OTHERS !

GOD ~ COUNTRY ~ HONOR


I just wanted to get the day over with and........... go down to
Smokey's for a few cold ones. Sneaking a look at my watch, I saw the
time, 1655.
Five minutes to go before the cemetery gates are closed for the day.
Full dress was hot in the August sun. Oklahoma summertime was as bad as
ever -- the heat and humidity at the same-- level both too high.

I saw the car pull into the drive, '69 or '70 model Cadillac Deville,
looked factory-new. It pulled into the parking lot at a snail's pace.
An old woman got out so slow I thought she was paralyzed. She had a
cane and a sheaf of flowers, about four or five bunches as best I could
tell.

I couldn't help myself. The thought came unwanted, and left a slightly
bitter taste: 'She's going to spend an hour, and for this old
soldier...my hip hurts like hell and I'm ready to get out of here right
now!'
But for this day my duty was to assist anyone coming in. Kevin would
lock the 'In' gate and if I could just hurry the old biddy along, we
might make the last half of happy hour at Smokey's. I broke Post
Attention. My hip made gritty noises when I took the first step and the
pain went up a notch. I must have made a real military sight;
middle-aged man with a small pot-gut and half a limp, in Marine Full
Dress Uniform, which had lost its razor crease about 30 minutes after I
began the watch. ... at the cemetery.

I stopped in front of her, halfway up the walk. She looked up at me with
an old woman's squint. ' Ma'am may I assist you in any way?' She
took long enough to answer. 'Yes, son. Can you carry these flowers? I
seem to be moving a tad slow these days.'
'My pleasure Ma'am.' Well, it wasn't too much of a lie.

She looked again. 'Marine, where were you stationed?' ' Vietnam ,
Ma'am. Ground-pounder. '69 to '71.'

She looked at me closer. 'Wounded in action, I see. Well done, Marine,
I'll be as quick as I can.'

I lied a little bigger, 'No hurry, Ma'am.'

She smiled............. and winked at me. 'Son, I'm 85-years old and I
can tell a lie from a long way off. Let's get this done, might be the
last time I can do this. My name's Joanne Wieserman , and I've a few
Marines I'd like to see one more time.'

'Yes, Ma'am, At your service.'

She headed for the World War I section, stopping at a stone. She picked
one of the bunches out of my arm and laid it on top of the stone. She
murmured something I couldn't quite make out. The name on the marble
was; Donald S. Davidson , USMC, France 1918.

She turned away and made a straight line for the World War II section,
stopping at one stone. I saw a tear slowly tracking its way down her
cheek. She put a bunch on a stone; the name was; Stephen X. Davidson ,
USMC, 1943.

She went up the row a ways and laid another bunch on a stone; Stanley J.
Wieserman, USMC, 1944 . She paused for a second, 'Two more, son, and
we'll be done'

I almost didn't say anything, but, 'Yes, Ma'am, Take your time.'

She looked confused. 'Where's the Vietnam section, son? I seem to have
lost my way.' I pointed with my chin. 'That way, Ma'am.' 'Oh!' she
chuckled quietly. 'Son, me and old age ain't too friendly.' She headed
down the walk I'd pointed at. She stopped at a couple of stones before
she found the ones she wanted.

She placed a bunch on Larry Wieserman , USMC, 1968, and the last one on
Darrel Wieserman , USMC, 1970. She stood there and murmured a few
words...... I still couldn't make out.

'OK, son, I'm finished. Get me back to my car and you can go home.'

' Yes, Ma'am. If I may ask, were those your kinfolk ?'

She paused. 'Yes, Donald Davidson was my father; Stephen was my uncle;
Stanley was my husband; Larry and Darrel were our sons. All killed in
action, all Marines.' She stopped, whether she had finished, or
couldn't finish, I just don't know. She made her way to her car,
slowly, and painfully.

I waited for a polite distance to come between us....... and then
double-timed it over to Kevin waiting by the car. 'Get to the
'Out'-gate QUICK! I have something I've JUST got to do.' Kevin started
to say something, but saw the look I gave him. He broke the rules to get
us there down the service road. We beat her.

She hadn't made it around the rotunda yet.

' Kevin ............ stand to attention next to the gate post. Follow my
lead.' I humped it a cross the drive to the other post.

When the Cadillac came puttering around from the hedges and began the
short straight traverse to the gate, I called in my best gunny's voice:
'TehenHut! Present Haaaarms!' I have to hand it to Kevin , he never
blinked an eye; full dress attention and a salute that would make his DI
proud.

She drove through that gate with two old worn-out soldiers giving her a
send off she deserved, for service rendered to her country, and for
knowing Duty, Honor and Sacrifice

I am not quite sure, but I think I saw............ a BIG salute returned
from that Cadillac !

Instead of 'The End'.... just think of 'Taps'.

Please let me share a favorite prayer: 'Lord, keep our servicemen and
women safe, whether they serve at home or overseas. Hold them in Your
loving hands and protect them as they protect us.'

Let's all keep those currently serving and those who have gone before,
in our thoughts. They are the reason for the many freedoms we enjoy.

'In God We Trust!'

Sorry about your monitor, it made mine blurry too!

I'm sure you might want to pass this one along to a few friends. .
Semper Fi ,


A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life wrote a blank check
Made payable to "The United States of America " for an amount of "up to
and including my life." That is Honor , and there are way too many
people in this country who no longer understand it.

[ScottsMom]

Amen.

[outlaw3179]

Thank You for sharing Wardey. Damn allergies.

[fjmas1976]

Roger that. I'll have to blame the allergies again

[Wardey]

Yeah, I got some dirt in both eyes......sure is dusty. Dave

[SupChf]

Semper Fi....Dang cold got my eyes a watering too......

[Ingle]

Yes i am crying, I have not been lucky enough to serve my country yet, but i do understand

[JoshLittle]

Thank you for sharing this. This made me tear up, although I have not had the honor to serve such an amazing country yet. Thank you.

[2ndLAADBnWRENCH]

Sharing is caring Marines!!!! How do ya get tears outta the key board?

[bulldogjoesmom]

More tears here......Thanks for sharing.

[davblay]

SEMPER FI to all the wives, mothers, daughters, sisters and what. We often forget what they endure during our tours of duty. My Mother had three sons in the Corps at the same time, and one in the Army! Thank God only two of us saw Combat and made it home in one piece. My family has a total of 63 years service to this Great Country.

God Bless that poor women, and Bless her for her strength. She earned that extra time that day.

Thanks for sharing, I appreciate it.

Semper Fi,

Dave

[Sgt Jim]

It was Getting hard read the last few lines! Semper Fi .

[maverickmarine]

yeah, my eyeballs started to get a little sweaty with the last few as well.

[Texasspuddin]

I have never served my country, but had the honor to be married to a Marine. Any time I run into a Marine I buy him a beer, shake his hand and tell them Thank you. Thanks for sharing.