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Highlands Today

The Holiday Season And The War

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By None Selected

Published: December 6, 2007

My brother Dan in Miramar received the following e-mail from one of his co-workers who had just returned from a business trip.

"It is the holiday season and everyone is running around, but sometimes you need a dose of reality to know what is important. That happened last night at the Greensboro Airport.

As I was waiting for my plane home last night, I took a seat along the window and as always, was watching all the activity on the ramp. Well, today's was a little different. I noticed a ton of police, a hearse and two black Cadillacs parked near where my jet would park. Kind of had some idea of what may be happening.

As the jet started pulling in a short while later, an eight man Naval Honor Guard in their dress blues walks out from the terminal below with four Marines in their camouflage utilities and two very decorated officers. The Honor Guard stopped short of the jet and the two officers walked over to one of the Cadillacs.

What appeared to be the parents were greeted by one officer and the other officer went to a young woman. The officers took the ladies' arms in theirs and walked toward the plane. A gentleman standing nearby said the pilot on the flight informed everyone that they were bringing home a Marine killed in Iraq about eight days ago.

Once the passengers were unloaded, the cargo belt pulled up to the plane and the four Marines went into the hold of the plane. I did not notice at first but all the passengers who were getting off the plane were congregating in and around the windows as well. In fact, the entire terminal area was watching the activity on the ramp – gate agents, pilots, other flights, everyone.

About 20 minutes later, the two officers came to attention and saluted and the Honor Guard took their positions at the end of the cargo belt. A flag-draped aluminum casket came down the belt and stopped. The four Marines came out, stood at attention and saluted as well.

The parents and wife were escorted alongside the Honor Guard and then a very precise unloading occurred, solemnly carried to the hearse and stopped. The four Marines then removed and folded the flag, handed it to the officer who handed it to the wife and the casket was placed in the hearse.

The relatives were escorted to the cars, the Honor Guard, Marines and officers marched off and then everything that typically happens started. The luggage, catering trucks and fueling all started to do their jobs. No one had started to do anything until the Marine was placed in the hearse and left the ramp.

And the other thing I noticed – the terminal with about 300 people stood silently watching. Not one cell phone rang; nobody was talking – just silently watching this Marine's last ride home.

Can you imagine how this family will forever remember the holiday period? I wonder what they think is important today?"

Holiday Shopping

Many of the stores have hired hundreds of extra personnel to cope with the Christmas crowds. Most of these new employees have not had a job for many months or even years and while they have received some training in how to work the cash registers, where things are located, and maybe a little about how to handle the thousands of customers wanting to get a certain gift, they still may seem a bit slow when problems arise.

Just remember, Tis the season to be jolly!

Raleigh Whiteman, of Lake Placid, can be reached on the Internet at rwwhiteman@comcast.net

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