Why We Were There

Some of us went because we had never been around them. Some of us went because we know how it feels to be in a hospital in so much pain you want to die but are afraid to admit to it. Some of us went because they were asked.

We all went to see Soldiers and Marines who were missing parts of their bodies, parts they left in Iraq or Afghanistan and a couple who lost their parts in Viet Nam. Some were women how about that? All were doing mostly great and being treated like the kings and queens of the world that they are.

Walter Reed is a hospital in the heart of Washington where men and women are cared for, repaired, treated and sent home in as good a shape as they can be. Walter Reed is a hospital manned by wonderfully talented men and women, doctors, nurses, therapists and administrators who love soldiers and show it in the way they care for the most severely wounded.

We saw soldiers with their heads caved in, soldiers missing both legs, missing one arm, missing one arm and had one leg gone and one leg so infected they might that lose that one too. We saw happy soldiers, soldiers in pain, soldiers walking for the first time on a titanium leg and all of them--every brave one of them--want to go back to their units. Where do we find such men and women?

We saw Viet Nam vets who were there helping the Iraq and Afghan vets deal with their loss and their new life.

We laughed with them all, cried with a few, gave all we could find a gift--a sweat shirt, a hat, a book and a thank you.

We met parents, wives and girlfriends who will now have to care for these soldiers for a very long time--a price and burden of love seldom discussed.

We stayed for hours and wanted to stay longer. We hope we helped them; we know they helped us.

Merry Christmas guys, get well soon.

Comments

[Nurse Judy]

Believe me. You helped them. They will remember what you did for them for a long long time.

[Chris Sears]

Sounds like, (reading the gals'posts too) that they also gave you guys a Christmas present.
Wonder if they know...
And the "passing it along to us" continues the gift giving. "Priceless"!

(Re-gifting quite alright in this instance!)

[Random Numbers]

Where do we find such men and women, Colonel? Even though I know your question is rhetorical, It nevertheless needs an answer.

We find them in our homes and in our schools;

We find them at the bank and the unemployment office;

We find them in Dallas and Des Moines;

We find them in Washington DC and in Tulsa, OK;

We find them sipping latte at Starbucks;

We find them drinking coffee at Waffle House;

We find them buying shoes at the mall;

We find them looking for bargains at the $1.00 store;

We find them in our churches, synagogues, temples, and (yes) mosques;

We find them in our football stadiums and flipping burgers at Wendy’s;

We find them in all our races and colors;

We find them in all our faiths and philosophies;

We find them in every state, city, town, and rural route;

We find them, of all places, in America.

[Chris Sears]

Random Numbers has me cryin'!

But, I THANK him for answering, in such a beautiful way, that question that Col. Hunt posed, (posed for a good reason, I believe, to cause us to learn, by answering) and a question we all really knew the answer to!

Yep. They are US!

Those heroes who have given it all.

They are the Americans we all wish to be. They are the Americans we wish we had become. They are the Americans we wish we could go back and do our lives over for. They are the Americans we say we would be now, if only we weren't too old now to join and fight.
Americans are plain and simple. No deep philosophical knowledge needed for us! We know the simple truths. My country 'tis of Thee. Sweet land of liberty. Once you know it is something you would die for..."the meaning of life" that we all search for, becomes apparent.

[Zinga]

Well said. Well said, indeed. I personally escaped Iraq twice without harm. Came close numerous times, but somehow pulled through. Let's keep the soldiers still deployed around the world in our prayers, especially during the holidays.