Posted on 02/07/2005 11:07:32 AM PST by doug from upland
This morning I spoke with a representative of Anheuser Busch about their Superbowl commercial. First, here is some background.
In a club in San Bernardino with a couple hundred Marines, wives, and friends, I watched the Superbowl. I fought back a tear at the bar as I watched the commercial that honored the troops. The Marines in that club felt proud. They appreciate knowing that we appreciate what they do for us. Hell, just buying them beer to show appreciation made them feel good.
In the 1981 Champsionship Game (not Superbowl), Joe Montana engineered an 89-yard drive at the end of the game to defeat Dallas. Dwight Clark capped it off with a leaping 6-yard reception in the end zone to advance to the Superbowl. In post season lore, it became known simply as "The Catch."
In 1986, John Elway led his team on a 98-yard march that tied Cleveland in the Championship Game. The Broncos won in overtime. It became known simply as "The Drive."
As we watched the standout commercial of troops in the airport being cheered on in the terminal as they arrived home, we hope the moment will create its own Superbowl lore. May it forever be known simply as "The Commercial."
The representative of Anheuser Busch was kind enough to return my call. I wanted to know who was behind the brilliant commercial. They will be putting out a press release today because they have received more media inquiries than they can possibly field.
Here is some of the information. The commercial was filmed at LAX. Yes, those were real military personnel from various branches who have served in Iraq. According to the spokesperson, the response to the commercial has been overwhelming and positive.
They really did something special this time. Thanks, Anheuser Busch. I will remember Superbowl 39 not for a hard fought close game, but for "The Commercial."
W....STILL PRESIDENT
Our best to you daughter and your family. My goodness, we can never repay the debt. I hope Americans show that have earned what you have done.
Also, I watched it twice, and there are no name tags on any uniform that I could see. After the second time, I concluded that they were actors and not actual military.
Of course, this does not take away for the sentiment.
Great story.
I'm reading your comments, the hair is standing up on my arms, my throat is closing and tears are falling.
I am pleased to be able to clear up that they were not just actors.
You honor us all with your service.
((((((((((((((((((((JAZZ))))))))))))))))))
It was a breath of fresh air.
Yea, I cried when I saw that one.
I always pause the tape for commercials - wish I'd have let it run for that one.
Thank you for letting me know they were real servicepersons. Each and every one so beautiful to me.
And I sure am glad to hear it!
I think it would have blown up in their face if they didn't use real military personnel.
" oh I missed the commercial with the white cat...please please describe"
The ad was hysterical-our # 2 , after the The Commercial.
It is so funny, I hesitate to spoil it for you, as it's much better to see it without knowing the punchline.
Young husband comes home from work first,carrying a bag of groceries and flowers ,opens aptmnt door, greets his long haired white cat, which then proceeds to follow him around the aptmnt, getting in the way, as cats will do.
Husband, still in dress shirt and tie, begins dinner preparation, sets table, candles on table, etc.
He is in small aptmnt kitchen slicing vegetables , while at his back, in the galley kitchen , is a pot of tomato sauce, in the pot, set on the counter.
The white cat, who is into everything, jumps onto the counter and tips the handle of the pot ( it was off the stove, assumption is that it is not hot, so cat doesn't get burned )and gets covered in the sauce.
Husband turns at the commotion and quickly grabs kitty out of the sauce-but, since he was slicing veggies-he is still holding the knife in the other hand.
At that moment, the wife arrives home and opens the door and sees the frazzled husband in the kitchen, holding a white cat by the scruff of the neck ( who is now dripping in red liquid ) in one hand and a large knife in the other.
The company logo crawls across the screen-Things are never what they seem .
What a wonderful user name! I haven't seen you before, maybe now I'm hitting the right threads!
During a long layover at Hartsfield, Oct. 2004, I witnessed the applause scene several times. I noticed that most of the uniforms were rather new looking. Hard to tell who was coming or going.
You have given me confidence. I was truly moved by your experience. I've met a lot of deployed soldiers via mail so far but not yet as they are returning. Same as you, I usually have no problem going up to people I want to speak to, in fact I'm more prone to do so than most but in this case I feel tongue-tied, maybe trite. But I really am thankful.
pinging self
What is your seat number soldier?
It all began with a chance encounter at an airport, a glance, an offer, a quiet chat.
"What's your seat number, soldier?"
"It's 23-B, sir," the soldier told the businessman.
"No, son, that's my seat. Yours is in first class."
As more soldiers boarded, similar offers quickly came from the other first-class passengers. Eight soldiers heading home from Iraq for two weeks of R&R found themselves and their officers in the big seats up front instead of the center seats in coach.
U.S soldiers fresh from Iraq were surprised but grateful for the first-class seats on Flight 866 from Atlanta to Chicago. That spontaneous act of good will transformed American Airlines Flight 866, from Atlanta to Chicago, on June 29.
"The soldiers were very, very happy, and the whole aircraft had a different feeling," said Lorrie Gammon, one of the Dallas-based flight attendants working the trip.
"There were 14 seats in first class, and there were 12 soldiers there. The other two first-class passengers wanted to give up their seats, too, but they couldn't find any more soldiers." Flight attendant Candi Spradlin of Conway, Arkansas, said she was impressed with how passengers treated the soldiers.
"If nothing else, those soldiers got a great homecoming," she said.
"The soldiers were so surprised they barely knew what to do," said Ms. Gammon, who lives in Frisco.
"They were so humble and thankful - they spent the whole flight saying thank you," she said."But we should have been saying thank you to them for what they're doing for us."
~ By Michael Young with the Dallas Morning News
Thank you, your daughter, your girlfriend, your father-in-outlaw and all the uncles. Thank you, each and every one.
Something like 40% of todays Army is women. In some local National Guard outfits, 50% of those activated for support roles are women. I could be wrong but I think your head is stuck in the past. I for one, honor all who serve.
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