The first event that I want to describe occurred last night before we started watching Spiderman 3 at the base theater. Before each picture that is shown a giant “Please Rise” comes up on the screen. Everyone in the theater dutifully rise for the National Anthem. The military is a pretty patriotic group and so the National Anthem plays as we all stand at attention as this is the standard. I have noticed at ballparks and other venues where the National Anthem is played, that often hats are not removed; many people will continue to talk through the song, but not here. About half way through the National Anthem, the film broke and the sound and background went off. The fully packed theater stood in silence, at attention, no one moved. One could have heard a pin drop as we all were waiting for the completion of the song we hold so dear. A few moments later and the National Anthem and the background film started again from the beginning and stopped in the same place. There was about a five second pause and then a solitary voice was heard and then hundreds joined in as the theater finished the Star Spangled Banner accapella. When we finished singing thunderous applause rose from the theater. It was in stark contrast to what usually happens as we usually stand at attention in silence and then sit down without a word. This night was special and all the people in the theater knew it.

The next event occurred a couple of weeks ago while we were loading a plane full of injured servicemen on their way to Germany. The plane was a C-17 which is a new huge cargo plane. It is well lit and is an absolute joy to work and fly on. It is especially nice to transport patients on. The only drawback about this plane is that it only carries enough litter stanchions to hold 9 litter patients. To allow us to carry more than 9 patients the plane carries a very large green box when it is tasked to do an aerovac mission, that holds additional litter stanchions. This box is about a 9 foot cube and has a big red cross painted on the end that points to the rear of the aircraft and is positioned all the way in the rear of the aircraft. On this day there was a three by five foot flag proudly displayed over the red cross. People are familiar with military members saluting the flag as it passes them in formation or stand when it passes in a parade. There is great reverence given to this symbol of our nation and freedom just like the singing or playing of the National Anthem.

We were about half way done loading the plane and I was helping carry an Army Sergeant Major, the highest ranking enlisted service member in the Army, onto the plane. We carry people onto the plane feet first and most just lie back close their eyes and hope we don’t drop them. In my personal experience of eight months of doing this I haven’t heard that we have dropped one yet. Four people usually carry a litter unless it is very heavy and then there will be six. Today myself and three others were carrying this soldier on and we had to pass by the giant green box with the flag facing him. His eyes were not closed and as we passed the flag and in what seemed to be an entirely natural gesture this injured soldier saluted the flag as he passed while lying on the litter. It is the only time I had ever seen it done and it brought tears to my eyes. As we loaded the Sergeant Major on the stanchion, I reached down and patted this soldier and thanked him for his salute. This man even though injured never lost his military bearing. What an example. I would guess that he was saddened by having to leave the fight, most soldiers like him are; but, I bet he was glad he was saluting it rather than being draped by it.

Solis Deo Gloria

More thoughts to come,