Posted on 11/06/2013 11:57:58 AM PST by TangledUpInBlue
It didn't matter that the 13 Marines on their way home from Afghanistan had been fighting in a war that no longer dominates the news or that they were stopping only for a short time in Chicago before flying to San Diego.
When USO volunteer John Colas heard with just an hour's notice that the Marines' plane was bearing down on Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, he and others scrambled to make sure they got a hero's welcome.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
That’s class.
That’s really neat!
That’s the America I grew up in and love. One that honors those who defend our freedoms. Love it that first class passengers, likely “greedy businessmen” gave up their seats for them. Class act all the way around, thanks so much for posting this.
Saw this earlier, made my day a little easier after seeing Mcstink winning over Cuccinelli, DeBlasio, etc...
It’s nice to know that there are still boots on the ground.
Bump
Great story.
The regs must have changed though. When I was in, Marines couldn’t travel (commercial) in cammies.
I guess I should look up the regs...
May God Bless you and comfort you for the loss of your son, a far better man then I ever was and I thank him for my freedom.
Oorah!
Jeez, I have seem soldiers (don’t know what branch offhand) in cammies in airports all over the country.
RIP, USMC Lance Cpl. Karl R. Linn.
(((CRISP SALUTE)))
Thank you for America’s Freedom & Liberty, Marine.
My pleasure. I come from a long line of Navy family and the USMC were always our brothers.
If they had landed at SFO (San Fran.) they would have bussed the troops to another airplane with the windows blocked out so the other passengers in the terminal wouldn’t freak out.
Pictures here. They don’t seem to post for me.
http://news.msn.com/us/13-marines-get-impromptu-chicago-airport-welcome
Looks like they changed it back in 2005.
Marines can wear cammies traveling to and from a war zone:
http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/showthread.php?21616-Cammies-now-authorized-for-travel-to-from-war-zone
Otherwise, the wearing of the cammie uniform is pretty tightly restricted:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1913678/posts
A very good friend of mine's father is a WW2 Vet, and one of the finest men you'd ever meet in your life. My friend accompanied his father on one of the Honor Flights last summer. Said he never ever saw his now 88 year old father show emotion until that day. He cried at the WW2 Memorial remembering those he served with and were lost.
I've never been fortunate enough to serve because of a physical disability. Still, those who serve and have served hold a special place in my heart because of my dad and his brothers who also served.
One last thing: I re-posted this story to my FB page with the comment that "this is the America that I grew up in and love." Every single one of my friends shared it out.
This story really captures the best of America and something many of us miss.
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