Chaplain writes of inspiring story in Iraq
Among Other Things - By Paul Fugleberg
When I was a kid during WWII, I remember that before every movie was shown the National Anthem was played, and the audience would stand respectfully, and then settle down to watch the show.
What prompted that memory was an email from Gil Mangels citing an email from Jim Higgins, a chaplain in Iraq, who told of the following custom:
"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 National Anthem 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 started 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, 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 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 here."
Chaplain Jim Higgins wrote the above report on May 14 while stationed at the Balad airport in Iraq, north of Baghdad.
Higgins added, "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."
That triggered other memories, too. On Dec. 7, 1941, I was standing at the kitchen sink washing the breakfast dishes when our neighbor Lucille Fletcher came running across the lawn screaming, "Pearl Harbor is being bombed!"
We spent the rest of the day listening to the radio to get the latest reports from Pearl Harbor.
That night, as I lay in bed, I could hear my folks discuss the latest rumor — that Japanese planes were attacking San Francisco. Not true, of course, but it was scary.
I slept on a screened in porch and at night I watched occasional searchlights focus in on planes overhead — for practice no doubt. And sometimes in the distance we could hear the wail of sirens that called for a blackout.
And one night I was awakened by a "thump, thump, thump" of anti-aircraft fire in the distance. No enemy planes, though. In the confusion, the only thing shot down was a barrage balloon over an aircraft factory!
Lots of other memories, too: Gasoline rationing, shortage of tires, 35 miles per hour speed limits, food ration stamps, victory gardens, raising chickens and rabbits, collecting tin foil and metal for scrap drives, buying savings stamps and ultimately getting enough to convert into savings bonds, neighbors going off to war — some never to return, including one of our renters who was killed in the Battle of the Bulge.
How lucky we were to be spared the devastation of bombing raids and ground fighting.
If there's a next time, we may not be as fortunate.