Author Topic: Memorial Service (Read 1755 times)

medic09 · « **on:** July 16, 2009, 07:09:01 AM »

I haven't verified this; but I have no reason not to believe it.

Please take a moment to give respect and consider what you will do to perpetuate these men's memories and legacy.

http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,41864.0.html

fishhead · « **Reply #1 on:** July 16, 2009, 07:24:24 AM »

Can you elaborate?
It seams I have to register on the site to view the post.

medic09 · « **Reply #2 on:** July 16, 2009, 07:54:23 AM »

Didn't realize; sorry. Here's the text that started the thread:

We're hearing a lot today about big splashy memorial services.

I want a nationwide memorial service for Darrell "Shifty" Powers.

Shifty volunteered for the airborne in WWII and served with Easy Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, part of the 101st Airborne Infantry. If you've seen Band of Brothers on HBO or the History Channel, you know Shifty. His character appears in all 10 episodes, and Shifty himself is interviewed in several of them.

I met Shifty in the Philadelphia airport several years ago. I didn't know who he was at the time. I just saw an elderly gentleman having trouble reading his ticket. I offered to help, assured him that he was at the right gate, and noticed the "Screaming Eagle", the symbol of the 101st Airborne, on his hat.

Making conversation, I asked him if he'd been in the 101st Airborne or if his son was serving. He said quietly that he had been in the 101st. I thanked him for his service, then asked him when he served, and how many jumps he made.

Quietly and humbly, he said "Well, I guess I signed up in 1941 or so, and was in until sometime in 1945 . . . " at which point my heart skipped.

At that point, again, very humbly, he said "I made the 5 training jumps at Toccoa, and then jumped into Normandy . . . . do you know where Normandy is?" At this point my heart stopped.

I told him yes, I know exactly where Normandy was, and I know what D-Day was. At that point he said "I also made a second jump into Holland , into Arnhem ." I was standing with a genuine war hero . . . . and then I realized that it was June, just after the anniversary of D-Day.

I asked Shifty if he was on his way back from France , and he said "Yes. And it's real sad because these days so few of the guys are left, and those that are, lots of them can't make the trip." My heart was in my throat and I didn't know what to say.

I helped Shifty get onto the plane and then realized he was back in Coach, while I was in First Class. I sent the flight attendant back to get him and said that I wanted to switch seats. When Shifty came forward, I got up out of the seat and told him I wanted him to have it, that I'd take his in coach.

He said "No, son, you enjoy that seat. Just knowing that there are still some who remember what we did and still care is enough to make an old man very happy." His eyes were filling up as he said it. And mine are brimming up now as I write this.

Shifty died on June 17 after fighting cancer.

There was no parade.

No big event in Staples Center .

No wall to wall back to back 24x7 news coverage.

No weeping fans on television.

And that's not right.

Let's give Shifty his own Memorial Service, online, in our own quiet way. Please forward this email to everyone you know. Especially to the veterans.

Rest in peace, Shifty.

Darrell "Shifty" Powers
Easy Company
506th Parachute Infantry Regiment
101st Airborne Infantry

72 yellow · « **Reply #3 on:** July 16, 2009, 08:30:43 AM »

Why would the media care ?? It seems most Americans are addicted to what the celebrity of the moment is doing. Hollywood is the center of the universe, right ??
Never mind if it wasn't for what those guys like Shifty did, Hollywood would be making propaganda films in German or Japanese. As the last of these vets die off and take their memories of what they saw and did with them, I wonder how much of a rewriting of history will take place.

medic09 · « **Reply #4 on:** July 16, 2009, 09:17:44 AM »

Sad and scary thought, that, 72yellow.

lynchj · « **Reply #5 on:** July 16, 2009, 10:01:41 AM »

That's a very nice tribute to a great man. Based on my own understanding of those who fought in WW2, my dad served 2 tours in the South Pacific, they wouldn't want a parade or a lot of hoopla just respectable funeral with military honors and for people to remember what they did for our country and the rest of the world. They are called the "Greatest Generation" for reason.

rhos1355 · « **Reply #6 on:** July 16, 2009, 10:43:49 AM »

You made my heart skip when you mentioned Band of brothers. Watched it 3 times and read the book. I have the title music on my iPod. My eyes brim when the film gets to the part when they interview the real life characters of the story. So modest, so humble, so brave. The real hard men.

This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.

Porscheguy912 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 16, 2009, 11:12:41 AM »

RIP Shifty. $:-\$

bucky katt · « **Reply #8 on:** July 16, 2009, 11:51:30 AM »

that post brought a tear to my eye Medic. My dad was at Anzio, i could never get him to talk about it though, not even the basics. i guess he saw stuff there he didnt want to remember..............

bill440cars · « **Reply #9 on:** July 16, 2009, 01:49:05 PM »

Medic, that is so sad about that old fella, he is one of many who just didn't (and never will) receive the recognition that is deserved (except now, being with the Creator! Thing is, those folks did their duty without being made to or anything like that and didn't expect to get SOMETHING for doing it. Dedicated to Service For Their Country and SO unselfess about doing it! I am SO moved by that and it makes me think about John F. Kennedy saying:

Ask Not What Your Country Can Do For You, But What You Can Do For Your Country.

Stormer · « **Reply #10 on:** July 16, 2009, 02:10:01 PM »

My deeply respects.

RIP old warrior.

72 yellow · « **Reply #11 on:** July 16, 2009, 02:17:06 PM »

Being a Baby Boomer (1949), it seemed like almost every older guy I knew of was a WW2 vet. My dad, his 4 brothers, neighbors, family friends, teachers, my father-in-law and his brother and later , older guys I worked with.
The first Christmas after I was married, my wife and I were invited to a neighbors apartment for a little drink to celebrate the holiday. The husband had to leave to go to work. His wife told us about how they were married just before he went overseas to Europe in 1944. She showed us the telegram she received on Christmas day stating that her husband was missing in action. She did not hear anything again until May 1945, when she received another telegram from the Red Cross stating that he was alive and was in a hospital recovering from serious wounds suffered in the Battle of the Bulge. Every Christmas to this day I think about Mr. Gray.
Now all of these people are gone and the older I get the more I appreciate what they had to endure.

Duke McDukiedook · « **Reply #12 on:** July 16, 2009, 02:46:00 PM »

Thank you Shifty for your service to this great country.

Thanks to Medic and Mark Phiefer for the original email.

bunghole · « **Reply #13 on:** July 16, 2009, 03:00:35 PM »

Here's the backstory on it:

http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/shiftypowers.asp

JS550 · « **Reply #14 on:** July 16, 2009, 04:34:58 PM »

Quote from: 72 yellow on July 16, 2009, 08:30:43 AM

Why would the media care ?? It seems most Americans are addicted to what the celebrity of the moment is doing. Hollywood is the center of the universe, right ??
Never mind if it wasn't for what those guys like Shifty did, Hollywood would be making propaganda films in German or Japanese. As the last of these vets die off and take their memories of what they saw and did with them, I wonder how much of a rewriting of history will take place.
How true! Its a sad thing, the people who are regonized by the majority for trivial B.S. I believe everyday should be veterans day, we should always take the time to thank soldiers who put thier ass on the line when asked to, without question.
Rest in piece Shifty.
jim

bill440cars · « **Reply #15 on:** July 16, 2009, 04:47:47 PM »

Quote from: JS550 on July 16, 2009, 04:34:58 PM

Quote from: 72 yellow on July 16, 2009, 08:30:43 AM
Why would the media care ?? It seems most Americans are addicted to what the celebrity of the moment is doing. Hollywood is the center of the universe, right ??
Never mind if it wasn't for what those guys like Shifty did, Hollywood would be making propaganda films in German or Japanese. As the last of these vets die off and take their memories of what they saw and did with them, I wonder how much of a rewriting of history will take place.
How true! Its a sad thing, the people who are regonized by the majority for trivial B.S. I believe everyday should be veterans day, we should always take the time to thank soldiers who put thier ass on the line when asked to, without question.
Rest in piece Shifty.
jim

It IS a shame that folks don't know mire about those who fought for our freedom. It makes me wonder how many know about Audie Murphy and that he was the "Most Decorated Soldier in WWII? Not sure if he still holds that or not. He was one on my Dad's favorite actors also. I really enjoy his movies as well. Of course, there are MANY that I DON"T know of also.

72 yellow · « **Reply #16 on:** July 17, 2009, 06:55:54 AM »

Last year my wife and I visited the WW2 Memorial in Washington, DC and the D-Day Memorial in Bedford VA. A very emotional experience. It took over 50 years to get permission to build the memorial on the mall in DC. And most of the funding was from private contributions. Yet a so called celebrity passes and within days memorials and accolades are pouring in. WTF

angeldeville · « **Reply #17 on:** July 17, 2009, 01:18:06 PM »

I have the privilege of working at the local VA. God has blessed us all because these men and women lived and died for us.

Ecosse · « **Reply #18 on:** July 25, 2009, 12:25:35 AM »

just discovered this, thanks medic!

72, i donated all my savings towards the construction of that memorial as i was appalled to learn there was nothing for them on a national level. in my signature line is a group dedicated to flying vets out to see it before their time comes.

i met a guy in a mall parking lot who fought in korea. i had lost the flag on my car, it was flag day, and he had a spare in his car. i was dumbstruck and felt so inadequate in his presence, what could i say other than thank you? he was a kind and humble man and have that department store flag to this day.

thanks again medic.

72 yellow · « **Reply #19 on:** July 26, 2009, 03:59:28 PM »

Ecosse,
I remember when Sen. Bob Dole, a badly wounded young infantryman told the story of his service in WW2. He was one of the supporters of the memorial.

When my wife and I visited the WW2 memorial, we were at the Pacific side since both of our fathers served in the PTO. My dad was 5th Army Air Force, my father-in-law served on the USS Indiana. We wanted to take a some pictures. We noticed a older vet with a Navy cap on there with his wife and daughter. When they finished with their pictures, we talked with them for a couple of minutes. My wife asked him if he would have his picture taken with her as a stand-in for her dad who passed away in 1996. He hesitated for a second then said sure. I took the picture and turned to his wife and daughter to say thanks for borrowing him for a minute and both had tears in their eyes. They said it was quite a suprise and an honor for him. We left with a few tears ourselves.

News:

Author Topic: Memorial Service (Read 1755 times)

rhos1355