I won’t describe to you what is happening in the picture I am about to link to. The dawning of what’s happening is part of the image’s power. It’s not funny in the least.
But this photo, it speaks directly to the deepest part of your heart. It sure did speak to mine.
Look at this picture and not cry.
I dare you and I warned you.
that’s not fair
I CAME TO IMAO EXPECTING TO LAUGH…THEN ‘WHAM’ REALITY CHECK!!! THEN THE TEARS.
I DON’T KNOW IF IT’S BECAUSE I AM FORMER ENLISTED USMC OR A DAD…OR JUST CRUSHED BY THE LOOK ON THAT BOY’S FACE.
CRUSHED.
M-
I am not a father nor enlisted. I can’t say it any better than the poster: “It gives me cold chills-of sadness and hope all at once.”
A prayer and a silent word of thanks to the family.
That picture is priceless.
Beyond words.
Wow! We forget the price that our military families are paying until a picture like this comes along! Truly sad and very emotional for me!
I tried not to tear up. Didn’t stop.
The only reason I didn’t cry is that I posted this full story a few months ago. I was able to get over it then and only misty this time. That kid is a hero for that picture!
Semper Fi
What, you’ve never seen an 8-year-old real man before? I’ll tell you the job I won’t take: the Marine with the flag.
Comatus, you can say that again… I don’t know how they do that so stoically. God bless them all, and I pray for their safety.
You know, I sat here and stared at this comments box for 20 minutes, fighting back the tears, wondering what to say….. Thinking about what must have been going through that boys mind, thinking about my own son. I really can’t find any words to express what I’m feeling. God bless that family, they are in my prayers.
Dollars to donuts that young man is a Marine within a decade.
Every war has it’s iconic images. This is a fine example for this long war.
I knew there’d come a time when I would begin to start calling this “Bush’s Folly.”
The time has arrived.
JulieTheJarhead, WTF does that have to do with this picture, save your everything is Bush’s fault for another thread. You make me sick!
Julie,
This boy’s father wasn’t part of a “folly”, he was a hero that gave his life killing people who have pledged to eliminate “the West” (which means you and your family). So, your alternative would be to allow them to continue to attack us here, and instead see photos of boys like this brave little guy dead on American streets? Because, that’s the alternative to fighting and killing them over there.
By the way, I posted #14, I was so pissed I forgot to put my name in…
“JulieTheJarhead” ?? No self-respecting Marine I know would ever leave a comment like that in response to this picture.
I keep thinking about Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address when I look at that photo, especially the last two sentences:
“It is for us the living rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us–that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion–that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.”
i have no real idea how i held back tears.
not cool to cry at work, you know.
sure makes me want to go home and hug my boy, though…
I have long maintained that some people are “born older” (reference to “It’s a Wonderful Life”). That boy is more of a man at 8 than most are at 30. God bless him.
Julie,
Shame on you.
And God bless the boy who became a man in a few short heart beats.
That young man will make for one hell of an Infantryman.
Thoughts and prayers to a Heroes family. To the son, a Marine in as PaleoMedic said ten years:
Semper Fi!
I Hope this brave young man knows that EVERY Marine is now his big brother or sister. His Hero dad is at the right hand of G-d but this young man will NEVER walk alone.
Futures lost…and futures won.
Okay, for some reason, my workplace blocks redstate (must have happened recently, I have been there in the past.)
Could somebody tell me someplace else to find the photo of which you speak?
Frank,
Thanks for having enough class to refrain from captioning the photo. That would have robbed the image of its power. May the Lord bless and keep that boy and his family.
Bawled my eyes out, too.
That young man will make for one hell of an Infantryman.#21 – Posted by: Dick on November 1, 2007 02:28 PM
I say he’s officer material. Maybe even presidential. When he goes to pay his respects to the families of our valorous fallen, he’d really know how they feel… Then again maybe he would have to much to relive. I imagine it hurts as much to hand over the flag as to receive it.
He’s not a man. He’s only eight-years-old. He’s a kid. He should be running and playing.
Too bad I can’t see the total picture. Too bad I can’t see us in Iraq for the next ten, twenty, fifty years. Too bad I’m so narrow-minded as to blame everything on Bush.
It’s what I see. If you can’t handle that, then stick to your insipid ‘fabulous facts.’
Julie, Its too bad that…………., ya see………….., What I’m tryin to say is………., you know what, it’s easier to just call you stupid!
You suck, spacemokey! I come here for humor and now I am crying at work. Real good.
(Thank you, though.)
My first thought when I saw it was “God D*** al qaeda to Hell”, followed by several variations of that theme. Beautiful, but incredibly sad.
#17, Mad Insomniac: Terrific. You captured the spirit of the picture, and gave it the perfect caption. Thank you.
As for Julie, well… I guess I better bite my tongue. It’s all Bush’s fault. After all, he has some weird idea about fighting those that want to destroy our Country. Shame on him, right? After all, he could always take the Clinton approach, and refuse to do anything.
Julie is right, he’s not a man, he’s a boy. He just happens to be a boy who is acting more like a man than most of the “men” in this country.
I don’t really know what to think about this war. I think it’s been botched in many ways. I supported it when it started, and I would like to see someone actually fight it instead of tie our soldiers’ hands.
If we’re not going to WIN this war, we should just pull out. Meaning , let’s fish or cut bait.
Julie – Get over yourself. As a Soldier who has done his year and is returning in two weeks – well, if you haven’t smelled it and tasted it, you can say all you want, but your opinion doens’t carry much weight.
Beez – Yeah, I’m goin’ back soon. Not so sure we shouda gone in the first place, but we have to clean up what we uncovered.
I’ve been a Soldier for 26 years. I’m an old paratrooper, so I figure I’m a little higher up the food chain that a Marine 😉 But, to all, we defend your right to say whatever you want to say – mostly, we just ask that you have an INFORMED opinion….but you’re always entitled to show everyone what an idiot you are — if you wish..