Posted on 11/17/2010 6:46:16 AM PST by Jemian
Lt. Gen. Hal Moore took his sword from its sheath Tuesday evening, raised it and said, Im going to cut this cake like a soldier.
The cake didnt stand a chance.
Moore sliced swiftly through the sugary goodness to help commemorate the 45th anniversary of the Battle of Ia Drang, where outnumbered American soldiers held off the North Vietnamese on Nov. 14-16, 1965.
Several hundred visited Auburn City Hall in a tribute to Moore and veteran journalist Joe Galloway, who co-authored the book We Were Soldiers Once And Young. Between slices of cake, Moore and Galloway spoke to the crowd, posed for photographs and signed autographs.
The battle was immortalized by the 2002 motion picture We Were Soldiers, starring Mel Gibson as Moore.
Those within the halls chambers were also treated to a series of telephone conference calls, played on loudspeakers, from Gibson, actor Sam Elliott, who played Sgt. Major Basil L. Plumley in the movie, and St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa, a personal friend of Hal Moore. Some of the conversation delved into the personal sacrifices Moore and Galloway made. Much of it, to the delight of the onlookers, drifted toward Auburn football.
Ive been watching your team play football, Elliott said. I was a student at the University of Oregon, and I was wondering if the Ducks will be playing you guys later this year. By the way, theres one thing Ive noticed about Alabama, and this is something personal. I watched the Georgia game the other day, and that Auburn support group is the classiest Ive ever seen through the way they conduct themselves at football games.
Auburn fans inside the city hall met the statement with a raucous cheer.
Its another world down there, Elliott continued. It was pretty awe-inspiring. I wish you guys well.
But Elliott turned his appreciation toward Moore and Galloway.
You guys were there (Ia Drang), he said. You made the sacrifices.
Galloway chimed in It was one hell of a fight. Were still on the right side of the grass.
Elliott considered the opportunity to work with Galloway and Moore quite an honor.
I didnt have a veteran in my family, he said. Its been an amazing experience, and Im forever grateful.
Galloway then drew laughter by saying, Well, we would have loved to have you there with us (in Vietnam).
Elliott concluded the conversation in a deeper tone. I worry about this country and the direction this country is heading today. We need more men with character like yourself. I appreciate everything you do and have done.
When LaRussa answered the line, he asked the audience, and Moore, Dont you guys have a football team down there?
Its a pleasure to say hello. What you guys went through representing our country will never be forgotten. You have my best and we all appreciate your sacrifices you made, LaRussa said.
Moore, who grew up in Kentucky, told the baseball manager, Im watching every game your team plays on the radio.
Gibsons call was met by simple commands from the man he played in the movie.
Tell the people in Auburn hello, the general said.
Hi there Auburn, Gibson said. Go War Eagles. So, how you been?
Moore then invited the actor to town.
One day when its a beautiful fall day down here, youve got to come to Auburn and watch our football team, Moore said with a wide grin. You can come down and stay in the same bedroom you did in your last visit.
Gibson, who noted he might be busy filming movies in other locations of the planet next fall, did say, I may well do that. Sounds like a good plan.
You have my complete respect. Thanks for letting me call in.
Galloway, who sat at a table beside Moore during the event, thanked local residents for the care theyve shown.
Thank you for taking such good care of my good friend Hal Moore, he said. It means that you care and that you are good neighbors. Thats the essence of living in a town like this. We who love him love you for that.
Moore, whose family has Auburn roots for nearly seven decades, then addressed the crowd and assured folks this will always be home.
I have a home in Colorado, but I dont think Ill go back there, he said. I love Auburn.
Then, with the stern face of a general, he issued another command.
I leave here with one message, he said. Beat Alabama!
I liked him even before he gave this order!
Ping!
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SEE PHOTOS
http://rahs62.org/classmatesnow/ronnieguyer.html
(RAHS = Rancho Alamitos High School)
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Thank you for your service to our country. I am honored to be on the same forum with you.
Bless you.
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2010-Thanksgiving, 45-Years later.
So much for us all to be Thankful for..?
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Amen! There is a lot for us to be thankful for.
I am thankful for the warrior spirit which is beginning to gain control of many areas of our country.
I am thankful for the blue sky, yellow leaves and green grass outside my window.
I am thankful for my family who is always there when they are needed and are gone when they’re not.
I am thankful for men like you who have answered the call of our country.
I am thankful for the priviledge of guiding my government’s decisions.
I am thankful for dogs.
I am thankful for Algore inventing the internet and
I am thankful for Free Republic.
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The one thing The LOVE Itself needs more of in this world is...
more LOVE.
And that only comes when people...
are FREE..!!!
So America’s Military heroes selflessly fighting to bring more Freedom and thus more LOVE to the world,
...and their LOVED ones who wait for them to come or not,
put a broad smile on GOD’s Face in the process.
http://www.Freerepublic.com/~aloharonnie/
Just for the LOVE of it..!!!
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Love ....
is what makes America Great!
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For LOVE is indeed,
...the Only Reality?
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NEVER FORGET
As a Radioman-Driver-Orderly to then Lt. Col. HAL G. MOORE, while in 1965’s then Free South Vietnam’s Central Highlands, I was stunned to witness first hand that there really is such a thing as HATE in this world. And people out there who hate the FREE for ..simply being FREE.
http://www.lzxray.com/guyer_set1.htm
I have since seen directly that LOVE is indeed the Only Reality and GOD is LOVE. And that the one thing The LOVE Itself needs more of in this world is ..more LOVE.
And that only comes when people ..are FREE..!!!
Making soldiers who so selflessly sacrifice to bring more FREEDOM, and thus more LOVE, to the world ..and their loved ones who wait for them to come home or not ..HOLY in GOD’s Eyes.
Bringing a broad smile to His Face in the process.
FREE-ing up people to be all that they already are in GOD’s Eyes and all that they can be while here on the Planet Earth.
‘It’s WHO YOU ARE’ is sung at the ending of Director RANDALL WALLACE’s 2010 Motion Picture “SECRETARIAT.” RANDALL wrote the song’s words. He also wrote the stirring words to the ‘MANSIONS of the LORD’ hymn, which is sung at the ending of his 2002 Motion Picture “WE WERE SOLDIERS.” For in life, it’s not what you have that counts. ‘It’s WHO YOU ARE.’
http://mommylife.net/archives/2010/1...ariat_the.html
‘MANSIONS of the LORD’ went on to become publically known as ‘The REAGAN RECESSIONAL’ as well. For it was stirringly sung by the Marine Corps Choir as President RONALD REAGAN’s flag draped casket was being carried out from his Washington, D.C. funeral for flight back to his REAGAN Presidential Libary final resting place. This hymn was to be soon heard by tour guests as they leave the Library ..forever.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WDrbbtaO0E
For President RONALD REAGAN was as much a soldier standing on the front line fighting for the FREEDOM of others, as we soldiers who were physically putting our own lives on the line out there.
NEVER FORGET
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NEVER FORGET
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Its WHO YOU ARE = SECRETARIAT Video, Song & Lyrics
http://mommylife.net/archives/2010/10/secretariat_the.html
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NEVER FORGET
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