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Hillarysworld -> National News -> "When the Music Stopped" - A touching statement about our National Anthem by an Army chaplain in Iraq
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TOPIC: "When the Music Stopped" - A touching statement about our National Anthem by an Army chaplain in Iraq
freespirit


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"When the Music Stopped" - A touching statement about our National Anthem by an Army chaplain in Iraq
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WHEN THE MUSIC STOPPED

I received this in an email tonight.  Thought you might enjoy it.

It is customary for the National Anthem to be played before every movie shown in military theaters.  This note is from a Chaplain in Iraq :
I recently attended a showing of 'Superman 3,' here at LSA Anaconda near Bagdad .  We have a large auditorium we use for movies, as well as memorial services, and other large gatherings. As is the custom back in the States, we stood and snapped to attention when the National Anthem began before the main feature. All was going as planned until about three-quarters of the way through when The National Anthem music suddenly stopped.
Now, what would happen if this occurred with a thousand 18-22 year-olds back in the States?  I imagine there would be hoots, catcalls, laughter, a few rude comments; and everyone would sit down and call for the movie to begin. Of course, that is, if they had stood for the National Anthem in the first place.
Here, all 1,000 Soldiers continued to stand at attention, eyes fixed forward. Finally, the music started at the beginning again.

The Soldiers continued to quietly stand at attention.  And again, at the same point, the music stopped.
What would you expect to happen? Even here I would imagine laughter, or that everyone would finally just sit down and expect the movie to start.  But here, you could have heard a pin drop. Every soldier continued to stand at attention.
Suddenly there was a lone voice, then a dozen, and quickly the room was filled with the voices of a thousand soldiers, finishing where the recording left off:
'And the rockets red glare, The bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night, That our flag was still there. Oh, say does that star-spangled, banner yet wave.
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.'
It was the most inspiring moment I have had here in Iraq . I wanted you to know what kind of Soldiers are serving you. Remember them as they fight for you!
Pass this along as a reminder to others to be ever in prayer for all of our soldiers serving us here, at home, and abroad....for many have already paid the ultimate price.
Written by  Chaplain Jim Higgins LSA Anaconda Balad Airport in Iraq , north of Baghdad




-- Edited by freespirit on Monday 27th of July 2009 08:29:02 PM

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Hillarysmygirl16


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This is a beautiful story thank you for sharing this.

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Sanders


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Thank you dear soldiers for toiling to protect our freedom.

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Alex


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Oh my gosh!  I'm one of those who tears up and my heart wells every time I hear the song, or when I start to say the Pledge of Allegiance.  Not sure when that started, but it's been happening for years.  I actually have to make an effort not to cry with emotion.  So this makes me feel very happy to hear this kind of story.  Thanks, FreeSpirit!smile

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foxyladi14


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God bless the troops.

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Kbentleyis


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Alex wrote:

Oh my gosh!  I'm one of those who tears up and my heart wells every time I hear the song, or when I start to say the Pledge of Allegiance.  Not sure when that started, but it's been happening for years.  I actually have to make an effort not to cry with emotion.  So this makes me feel very happy to hear this kind of story.  Thanks, FreeSpirit!smile


Oh!  ME TOO!  I'm such an old patriotic ninny!  Both mean so much to me.

 



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