When One Falls, Another Brings Them Home

Take the time to view the HBO presentation of “Taking Chance”. It is based on the true story of Marine Lt. Col. Michael Strobl who volunteered, as a highly decorated Marine officer, to be the escort for PFC Chance Phelps. PFC Phelps had fallen to enemy gunfire on Good Friday of 2004. Every Marine or soldier who dies in combat is escorted by a uniformed member of the military from Dover Air Force Base to their final resting place. The deceased’s personal effects never leave the escorts side until delivered to the next of kin.

These courageous men and women bring the fallen home after having given their “last full measure of devotion”.

They bring them home.

They take care to give the respect, honor and dignity to their fallen comrade and, as the movie states, to be “their witness”. They present themselves in proper salute to the flag-draped coffin.

Watch this film and bear witness for all our fallen sons and daughters, mothers and fathers. For whatever our personal belief is of War in general or this conflict, specifically, much can be said of us in how we treat our fallen.

For until we reach that place where we can erase war from our own hearts and minds, we can bear witness to what tragedy and honor lay in the need to fight for this improbable experiment we call America.

“That flag flying over the courthouse means certain things are set in stone. Who we are, what we’ll do and what we won’t.”
Bruce Springsteen