sometimes I get reality checked a bit and my perspective gets re-aligned. When Michael Jackson died, I got very upset at a lot of the negativity that came from people who had differing opinions of the man than I. I was and am a fan, and it seems I was swallowed up by the media frenzy and my own ideocentricity. Apparently, MJ was not the only person who died that day that impacted my life. Sometimes that impact happened waaaay before we were even glimmers in our grandparents eyes. Here is an email I received from my mother today. it was a "Fw: Fw: Fw.:RE: Fw:" type email, so whos to say if this is a legit story or not, but an honest to goodness American Hero passed away at the same time as Michael, and I was too busy to notice. Perhaps a thread on a cheap car enthusiast forum isnt the most honorable a memorial, but when I was reading it, the only people I knew would appreciate this as much as I did were you guys. Its easy to get caught up in 401k hullabaloo, GMs new whatsitz and stockmaket tomfoolery, but there really is more to the picture than those silly news of the moment stories. Enough from me, here it is. I hope it is as humbling for you all as it was for me.
Some email contained: One of the "Band of Brothers" soldiers died on June 17, 2009. We're hearing a lot today bout big splashy memorial services. I want a nationwide memorial service for Darrell Shifty" owers. Shifty volunteered for the airborne in WWII and served with Easy Company of the 06th Parachute Infantry Regiment, part of the 101st Airborne Infantry. If you've seen Band f Brothers on HBO or the History Channel, you know Shifty. His character appears in all 10 episodes, and Shifty himself is interviewed in several of them.
I met Shifty in the Philadelphia airport several years ago. I didn't know who he was at the time. I just saw an elderly gentleman having trouble reading his ticket. I offered to help, assured him that he was at the right gate, and noticed the "Screaming Eagle", the symbol of e 101st Airborne, on his hat. Making conversation, I asked him if he'd been in the 101st Airborne or if his son was serving. He said quietly that he had been in the 101st. I thanked him for his service, then asked him when he served, and how many jumps he made. Quietly and humbly, he said "Well, I guess I signed up in 1941 or so, and was in until sometime in 1945 . . ." at which point my heart skipped. At that point, again, very humbly, he said "I made the 5 training jumps at Toccoa, and then jumped into Normandy . . . . Do you know where Normandy is?" At this point my heart stopped. I told him yes, I know exactly where Normandy was, and I know what D-Day was. At that point he said "I also made a second jump into Holland, into Arnhem." I was standing with a genuine war hero . . . . and then I realized that it was June, just after the anniversary of D-Day. I asked Shifty if he was on his way back from France, and he said "Yes. And it's real sad because these days so few of the guys are left, and those that are, lots of them can't make the trip." My heart was in my throat and I didn't know what to say.
I helped Shifty get onto the plane and then realized he was back in Coach, while I was in First Class. I sent the flight attendant back to get him and said that I wanted to switch seats. When Shifty came forward, I got up out of the seat and told him I wanted him to have it, that I'd take his in coach. He said "No, son, you enjoy that seat. Just knowing that there are still some who remember what we did and still care is enough to make an old man very happy." His eyes were filling up as he said it. And mine are brimming up now as I write this.
Shifty died on June 17 after fighting cancer. There was no parade. No big event in Staples center. No wall to wall back to back 24x7 news coverage. No weeping fans on television. And that's not right. Let's give Shifty his own Memorial Service, online, in our quiet way. Please forward this email to everyone you know.
do with this as you see fit
