Didn't see this reported in the media!!

[Ranger Ron]

The following is an email that I received from a friend today. I was certainly impressed and NO, I could make it through with dry eyes. Verified it with Jim.

WHAT A GREAT TRIBUTE TO OUR TROOPS!! TOO BAD THE NEWS MEDIA DOESN'T THINK THIS IS NEWS WORTHY!!



Lets see you get through this dry-eyed.



To all those in my family and my friends...and the families of my

friends...who have served in the military at any time, I say THANK YOU...and

to my family members (you know who you are), I am so very proud of you...and

it is because of you that I thank every man and woman in uniform - on the

street, at the mall, at the airport...wherever I see them.







****************************************************



FRIDAY MORNING AT THE PENTAGON

By JOSEPH L. GALLOWAY

McClatchy Newspapers







Over the last 12 months, 1,042 soldiers, Marines, sailors and Air Force

personnel have given their lives in the terrible duty that is war.

Thousands more have come home on stretchers, horribly wounded and facing

months or years in military hospitals.



This week, I'm turning my space over to a good friend and former

roommate, Army Lt. Col. Robert Bateman, who recently completed a year

long tour of duty in Iraq and is now back at the Pentagon.



Here's Lt. Col. Bateman's account of a little-known ceremony that fills

the halls of the Army corridor of the Pentagon with cheers, applause and

many tears every Friday morning. It first appeared on May 17 on the

Weblog of media critic and pundit Eric Alterman at the Media Matters for

America Web site.



"It is 110 yards from the "E" ring to the "A" ring of the Pentagon. This

section of the Pentagon is newly renovated; the floors shine, the

hallway is broad, and the lighting is bright. At this instant the entire

length of the corridor is packed with officers, a few sergeants

and some civilians, all crammed tightly three and four deep against the

walls. There are thousands here.



This hallway, more than any other, is the Army' hallway. The G3 offices

line one side, G2 the other, G8 is around the corner. All Army. Moderate

conversations flow in a low buzz. Friends, who may not have seen each

other for a few weeks, or a few years, spot each other, cross the way

and renew their friendships.



Everyone shifts to ensure an open path remains down the center. The air

conditioning system was not designed for this press of bodies in this

area. The temperature is rising already. Nobody cares.10:36 hours: The

clapping starts at the E-Ring. That is the outer most of the five rings

of the Pentagon and it is closest to the entrance to the building.. This

clapping is low, sustained, hearty. It is applause with a deep emotion

behind it as it moves forward in a wave down the length of the hallway.



A steady rolling wave of sound it is, moving at the pace of the soldier

in the wheelchair who marks the forward edge with his presence. He is

the first. He is missing the greater part of one leg, and some of his

wounds are still suppurating.. By his age I expect that he is a private,

or perhaps a private first class.



Captains, majors, lieutenant colonels and colonels meet his gaze and nod

as they applaud, soldier to soldier. Three years ago when I described

one of these events, those lining the hallways were somewhat different.

The applause a little wilder, perhaps in private guilt for not having

shared in the burden. Yet.



Now almost everyone lining the hallway is, like the man in the

wheelchair, also a combat veteran. This steadies the applause, but I

think deepens the sentiment. We have all been there now. The soldier's

chair is pushed by, I believe, a full colonel. Behind him, and

stretching the length from Rings E to A, come more of his peers, each

private, corporal, or sergeant assisted as need be by a field grade

officer.



11:00 hours: Twenty-four minutes of steady applause. My hands hurt, and

I laugh to myself at how stupid that sounds in my own head. My hands

hurt.. Please! Shut up and clap. For twenty-four

minutes, soldier after soldier has come down this hallway - 20, 25, 30.

Fifty-three legs come with them, and perhaps only 52 hands or arms, but

down this hall came 30 solid hearts.



They pass down this corridor of officers and applause, and then meet for

a private lunch, at which they are the guests of honor, hosted by the

generals. Some are wheeled along. Some insist upon getting out of their

chairs, to march as best they can with their chin held up, down this

hallway, through this most unique audience. Some are

catching handshakes and smiling like a politician at a Fourth of July

parade. More than a couple of them seem amazed and are smiling shyly.



There are families with them as well: the18-year-old war-bride pushing

her 19-year-old husband's wheelchair and not quite understanding why her

husband is so affected by this, the boy

she grew up with, now a man, who had never shed a tear is crying; the

older immigrant Latino parents who have, perhaps more than their wounded

mid-20s son, an appreciation for the emotion given on their son's

behalf. No man in that hallway, walking or clapping,

is ashamed by the silent tears on more than a few cheeks. An Airborne

Ranger wipes his eyes only to better see. A couple of the officers in

this crowd have themselves been a part of this parade in the past.



These are our men, broken in body they may be, but they are our

brothers, and we welcome them home. This parade has gone on, every

single Friday, all year long, for more than four years.



Did you know that?



The media hasn't yet told the story - And probably never will. ARE YOU SUPRISED? I'M NOT!

[Jim]

This has been ongoing for some time. It is, indeed, inspirational.

[ShotUp]

My parents flew out to DC after I was hurt and we signed up at Walter Reed to go on a trip to the Pentagon. Walking through this was amazing.It was one of the greatest experiences in my life.

[Ranger Ron]

My parents flew out to DC after I was hurt and we signed up at Walter Reed to go on a trip to the Pentagon. Walking through this was amazing.It was one of the greatest experiences in my life.

Well ShotUP, this country owes you way more than a walk through the Pentagon. Probably won't get it, EXCEPT from the men and women on this site.

IMHO, the day will come young Warrior when you will be sitting at the right hand of God! Thanks for your service! ~S~