3,000 Words

The other day my mom sent me an email forward, then specifically called me to make sure I read the email (because I don't always read emails forwarded to me).

I have been getting in the habit of snapping pictures that are worth 1,000 words... well, the forwarded email my mom sent me had three pictures attached.  One picture won photograph of the year and the other two are the second and third place finishes.

My 1,000 word pictures don't hold a candle what is said through each of these three pictures.  I had to share them.

Third Place

“Son, a grateful Nation……..”

Second Place

The night before the burial of her husband's body, Katherine Cathey refused to leave the casket, asking to sleep next to his body for the last time. The Marines made a bed for her, tucking in the sheets below the flag. Before she fell asleep, she opened her laptop computer and played songs that reminded her of 'Cat,' and one of the Marines asked if she wanted them to continue standing watch as she slept. 'I think it would be kind of nice if you kept doing it,' she said. 'I think that's what he would have wanted'.

First Place

When 2nd Lt. James Cathey's body arrived at the Reno Airport , Marines climbed into the cargo hold of the plane and draped the flag over his casket as passengers watched the family gather on the tarmac. During the arrival of another Marine's casket last year at Denver International Airport , Major Steve Beck described the scene as so powerful: 'See the people in the windows? They sat right there in the plane, watching those Marines. You gotta wonder what's going through their minds, knowing that they're on the plane that brought him home,' he said. 'They will remember being on that plane for the rest of their lives. They're going to remember bringing that Marine home. And they should.'

As we draw near to Memorial Day, please thank a service man or woman, thank the families of service men and women, and keep our troops in your prayers.

Thank you, Troops.