Why the media hasn't told this story ???
(This was confirmed to be true by my FAM in 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 Web log 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.
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 outermost
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.' Christ. 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: the 18-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 told the story.
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 Web log 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.
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 outermost
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.' Christ. 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: the 18-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 told the story.
0
-
Thanks for the post. 0 -
Very moving.
Thanks for posting it.0 -
[^] 0 -
quote:Why the media hasn't told this story ???
Cause its long boring and never happenned? Gamn Straight0 -
Clean the mud out of your eyes Stinky --
nothing on it at Snopes..0 -
quote:Originally posted by 180A
Clean the mud out of your eyes Stinky --
nothing on it at Snopes..
... and (Read the first sentence.)0
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