God Bless Our Soldiers!  Happy 4th!  And the rockets red glare!
God Bless Our Soldiers! Happy 4th! And the rockets red glare!

God Bless Our Soldiers! Happy 4th! And the rockets red glare!

From a Chaplain in Iraq: For those who are unaware, the National Anthem is played before every movie in military theaters in the U.S. and abroad.  I recently attended a showing of ‘Superman 3,’ here at LSA Anaconda.  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 the music stopped.  Now, what would happen if this occurred with 1,000 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 a movie.  Of course, that is, if they had stood for the National Anthem in the first place.

Here, the 1,000 Soldiers continued to stand at attention, eyes fixed forward.

The music began again. The Soldiers continued to quietly stand at attention. An again, at the same point, the music stopped.

What would you expect to happen next? Even here I would imagine laughter, as everyone finally sat down and expected the movie to start

But here, you could have heard a pin drop. Every Soldier continued to stand at attention. Suddenly there was alone 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 here.

Remember them as they fight for you!

Pass this along as a reminder to others to be ever in prayer for all our soldiers serving us here at home and abroad. For many have already paid the ultimate price….

Written by Chaplain Jim Higgins on 5/14/07
LSA Anaconda is at the Balad Airport in Iraq , north of Baghdad .

God Bless America
In God We Trust

Yes, remember this as you celebrate your freedom this 4th of July.  Love, Ruthanna

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