There’s nothing like coming home after having “a Monday” at work, having a bit to eat and watching a movie that couldn’t be any more serious. I have just spent nearly the past hour and a half of holding back tears… and no, it wasn’t watching Forrest Gump… I caught that one (for probably the 15th time) over the weekend, thank you very much!
The movie, which was made for HBO, is entitled, Taking Chance and I strongly recommend you watch it. If you don’t have HBO, I have a feeling that it will make its way to DVD in the not-so-distant future. When it does, please get your hands on it. If you haven’t heard about the movie, it’s based on the journal entries of Lt. Col. Mike Strobl who volunteered to escort the remains of PFC Chance Phelps back to Wyoming. In fact, he wrote the screenplay for the movie.
Now, I wrote yesterday about how we need to recognize people, other than celebrities, for acts such as putting their lives on the line on a daily basis so that the rest of us may live a bit more comfortably. One group of those folks are our men and women in uniform. This movie gives recognition to one Marine, by name, but stands for the over 5000 Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines who have died in Afghanistan and Iraq since 2001. This movie is an example of the care and attention that is rendered to each fallen service member from the moment they are received at Dover Air Force Base, to when they are interred.
I don’t care if you’ve ever worn the uniform or not. I don’t care if you are for Operation Enduring Freedom, or the war in Iraq. However, you should care, you should take great interest in getting a glimpse into what the return home for those who took the oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States and paid the ultimate price for their country. You should care about those who did not live through their enlistments and commissions. You should care about those who have left family and friends behind so that you could live your life and enjoy your family.
You should care. You should watch. You should reflect… if even for just a moment.
Filed under: Droppings Tagged: | Chance Phelps, Lt. Col. Mike Strobl, Taking Chance
Well, I read your post before I got to see the movie, but you already had me in tears! Sounds like a must see…thanks for the heads-up. The saddest part for me about the war and loss of life is the ‘but why?’ aspect, and if I was a family member my anger would be uncontrollable! I’ll get back to you after I see it……
I want to see this movie, I’ve seen interviews and a scene here or there. I remember being horrified early on with the Iraq/Afghanistan conflict, when I was told that photographers were not allowed to show the caskets being delivered home, and in great numbers. That was shameful, these people gave their lives for our country.
I remember that too Mari, and I thought that it was a cover-up for how many people we were losing…I didn’t agree with the war, but thought that this was such a slap in the face to the dead soldiers and their families…we were hiding them instead of honoring them……
I do have HBO and it is on my must see list.
Have any of you ever read the book “Boots on the Ground at Dusk” a tribute to Pat Tillman” written by his Mom, Mary.
That is a killer..
I wish Mary Tillman would agree to this book being made into a movie.
I have one grandson who was a Screaming Eagle with the 101st airborne .His Unit was one of the first to go into Afghanistan..he got left behind because of a torn ALC..he blamed me for lighting too many candles at church.
I also have a step grandson from Techy Flash’s first marriage
Sarg. Tom, he flew home last week after his 1 year in Iraq was up.
Also several friends and relatives that have made it home safe, so we didn’t have to attend any of those memorials.
I am hoping President Obama will bring our kids home before my 2 youngest G-sons reach enlistment age.
All good points. I work at a mental health advocacy organization and we were so pissed that the ex-dictator and his VA people were ignoring that returning vets are in a suicide epidemic. Obama seems interested in their mental health, fortunately…we need to take care of those who *do* come back.