>> This is a great story. BE Sure to Read it to the End: >> >> The Old Man >> As I came out of the supermarket that sunny day, pushing my cart of >> groceries towards my car, I saw an old man with the hood of his car up and a >> lady sitting inside the car, with the door open. >> The old man was looking at the engine. I put my groceries away in my car >> and continued to watch the old gentleman from about twenty five feet away. >> >> I saw a young man in his early twenties with a grocery bag in his arm, >> walking towards the old man. The old gentleman saw him coming too and took a >> few steps towards him. I saw the old gentleman point to his open hood and >> say something. >> The young man put his grocery bag into what looked like a brand new >> Cadillac Escalade and then turn back to the old man and I heard him yell at the >> old gentleman saying, 'You shouldn't even be allowed to drive a car at your >> age.' And then with a wave of his hand, he got in his car and peeled >> rubber out of the parking lot. >> >> I saw the old gentleman pull out his handkerchief and mop his brow as he >> went back to his car and again looked at the engine. He then went to his >> wife and spoke with her and appeared to tell her it would be okay. I had >> seen enough and I approached the old man. He saw me coming and stood straight >> and as I got near him I said, 'Looks like you're having a problem.' >> >> He smiled sheepishly and quietly nodded his head. I looked under the hood >> myself and knew that whatever the problem was, it was beyond me. Looking >> around I saw a gas station up the road and told the old man that I would be >> right back. I drove to the station and went inside and saw three >> attendants working on cars. I approached one of them and related the problem the >> old man had with his car and offered to pay them if they could follow me >> back down and help him. >> >> The old man had pushed the heavy car under the shade of a tree and >> appeared to be comforting his wife. When he saw us he straightened up and thanked >> me for my help. As the mechanics diagnosed the problem (overheated >> engine) I spoke with the old gentleman. >> >> When I shook hands with him earlier he had noticed my Marine Corps ring >> and had commented about it, telling me that he had been a Marine too. I >> nodded and asked the usual question, 'What outfit did you serve with?' >> >> He had mentioned that he served with the first Marine Division at Tarawa, >> Saipan, Iwo Jima and Guadalcanal. He had hit all the big ones and retired >> from the Corps after the war was over. As we talked we heard the car engine >> come on and saw the mechanics lower the hood. They came over to us as the >> old man reached for his wallet, but was stopped by me and I told him I >> would just put the bill on my AAA card. >> >> He still reached for the wallet and handed me a card that I assumed had >> his name and address on it and I stuck it in my pocket. We all shook hands >> all round again and I said my goodbye's to his wife. >> >> I then told the two mechanics that I would follow them back up to the >> station. Once at the station I told them that they had interrupted their own >> jobs to come along with me and help the old man. I said I wanted to pay >> for the help, but they refused to charge me. One of them pulled out a card >> from his pocket looking exactly like the card the old man had given to me. >> Both of the men told me then, that they were Marine Corps Reserves. Once >> again we shook hands all around and as I was leaving, one of them told me I >> should look at the card the old man had given to me. I said I would and drove >> off. >> >> For some reason I had gone about two blocks when I pulled over and took >> the card out of my pocket and looked at it for a long, long time. The name of >> the old gentleman was on the card in golden leaf and under his >> name........ 'Congressional Medal of Honor Society.' >> >> I sat there motionless looking at the card and reading it over and over. >> I looked up from the card and smiled to no one but myself and marveled >> that on this day, four Marines had all come together, because one of us >> needed help. He was an old man all right, but it felt good to have stood next >> to greatness and courage and an honor to have been in his presence. >> ' Remember, old men like him gave you FREEDOM for America ' >> >> America is not at war. The U.S. Military is at war. America is at the >> Mall. >> >> If you don't stand behind our troops, PLEASE feel free to stand in front >> of them! >> >>
This is CABL.com posting #256576. Tiny Link: cabl.co/mbeUu
