May 25, 2009
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I read last week that the U.S troop death toll since the beginning of the war was 4,300. When I saw that number, it literally made me feel sick to my stomach. I had no idea it was anywhere near this high. I’m not proud to admit it, but I think I sometimes avoid reading these facts because they make me sad. I can’t begin to imagine how the families of these fallen troops must feel.
I decided to take a road trip out of town for this Memorial Day weekend. As I was zooming up I-95 Friday night with all my windows down enjoying the warm air and feeling of total freedom, I couldn’t stop thinking of this number. 4,300. That’s just this war and just so far I kept thinking. That’s 4,300 families who weren’t going to be able to have the usual burger and a beer with their loved one this weekend like a lot of us traditionally do. As I was cruising with these thoughts I hit a huge traffic jam. After about an hour inching along, traffic came to a stop so I put my car in park. When cars finally started moving again mine didn’t. There I was in the middle lane of I-95 on Friday night Memorial Day weekend with a car that I couldn’t get to move.
Not 2 seconds later, a young guy pulled next to me and ran over with a smile to help. Before I could greet him he was looking under the hood, scurrying around my car to try to find the problem and assuring me that “I’m a mechanic.” While I was sitting shocked still in my drivers seat reaching for my AAA card wondering what the heck to do, a woman ran up and asked if she could help too. She then pulled her car behind mine because she “didn’t want me to get hit.” She literally stood in the middle of the highway (did I mention I-95?!-75 mph traffic!?) waving people around me. I’ve had my share of car issues in the past and I am used to the AAA call, tow truck- whatever. I am not used to being the middle lane of I-95 on a holiday weekend with two strangers about to be hit, as cars whiz by screaming “Get the hell out of the road.” Yikes.
Without going into too much more detail. These good samaritans got my car to the side of the road for safety. The young guy somehow managed from there to get it running and moving like new all within 30 minutes. At that point the guy offers to follow me to the next gas station to make sure I am OK. The woman who was helping must have seen a sticker or something on his car and asked him if he was in the military to which he responded something about 3 plus years Marine and he was headed to DC. She responded something about miltary as well for her and thirty years, then a wave and smile at me (still sitting in my drivers seat) “Good luck and take care!” and she was off. I barely had time to get a thank you out to her before she was gone.
The young guy followed me to the rest stop where I finally was able to get out of the car, shake his hand, introduce myself and thank him a hundred times. (His girlfriend was with him and was equally as wonderful.) His name was Rob. I’m not sure what Rob the Marine was headed to do in DC on this Memorial Day weekend but I could probably guess. I thanked him again, gave him my card hoping he’d email me or be in touch at some point somehow so I could thank him yet again or send him a gift of some kind. I drove off thinking- did that just happen?
You can’t make this stuff up people.
I was happily speeding up the interstate, in deep thought on Memorial Day weekend about fallen heroes and what I would write on this very post to give thanks to any and every service person and their family, mid-thought my car breaks down and I am rescued in an instant by two service people?! One who had served 3 years and one 30?
Anyone who doesn’t think things happen for a reason, think again.
On this weekend when boats, beaches and bbq’s are in full swing, lets remember the
reason why we can enjoy it all. I won’t forget ever again. I’m just sorry it took me this long to really understand the meaning of this weekend.
Thank you Rob the Marine and short-haired woman in whatever branch you are/were in. I’m sorry I didn’t get your name. I’m home safe and sound. Hope you are too from your travels. Thanks for being two of America’s finest and all your help.
