Memorial for a hero

[DonaCatalina]

Forwarded from another list:
Subject: Band of Brothers Hero
One of the "Band of Brothers" soldiers died on June 17, 2009.


We're hearing a lot today about big splashy memorial services.

I want a nationwide memorial service for Darrell "Shifty" Powers.

Shifty volunteered for the airborne in WWII and served with Easy
Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, part of the 101st
Airborne Infantry. If you've seen Band of 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 the 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, and 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 own quiet
way. Please forward this email to everyone you know. Especially to the
veterans.

Rest in peace, Shifty.

"A nation without heroes is nothing."
== Roberto Clemente ==

[bellevivre]

Thank you for posting this- forwarded to the veterans in my life (grandfather, father and husband)

[Capt. Morgan]

Freedom isn't free....and no words I have could ever thank any of those who served, but my heart will try to find the words. God bless all who are called and serve.

WESTMORELAND. O that we now had here
    But one ten thousand of those men in England
    That do no work to-day!
 
KING. What's he that wishes so?
    My cousin Westmoreland? No, my fair cousin;
    If we are mark'd to die, we are enow
    To do our country loss; and if to live,
    The fewer men, the greater share of honour.
    God's will! I pray thee, wish not one man more.
    By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,
    Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;
    It yearns me not if men my garments wear;
    Such outward things dwell not in my desires.
    But if it be a sin to covet honour,
    I am the most offending soul alive.
    No, faith, my coz, wish not a man from England.
    God's peace! I would not lose so great an honour
    As one man more methinks would share from me
    For the best hope I have. O, do not wish one more!
    Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host,
    That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
    Let him depart; his passport shall be made,
    And crowns for convoy put into his purse;
    We would not die in that man's company
    That fears his fellowship to die with us.
    This day is call'd the feast of Crispian.
    He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
    Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam'd,
    And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
    He that shall live this day, and see old age,
    Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
    And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian.'
    Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
    And say 'These wounds I had on Crispian's day.'
    Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
    But he'll remember, with advantages,
    What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
    Familiar in his mouth as household words-
    Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter,
    Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester-
    Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red.
    This story shall the good man teach his son;
    And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
    From this day to the ending of the world,
    But we in it shall be remembered-
    We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
    For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
    Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
    This day shall gentle his condition;
    And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
    Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
    And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
    That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.

[Welsh Wench]

Shifty also didn't die with needle marks that weren't necessary, either.

Rest in peace, Shifty. You deserve it.

[Anna Iram]

This makes me think of an episode of WestWing:

http://westwing.wikia.com/wiki/In_Excelsis_Deo


It's a shame how quickly we forget. So many heros are forgotten and have fallen by the wayside, They deserve so much more respect in life than they receive.

Thanks for sharing this Dona. It's good to be reminded.

[brier patch charlie]

So long, Shifty, I salute you and all your fellow troopers!  " CURRAHEE"!

[Genievea Brookstone]

I served 10 yrs in the AirForce and  served in Desert Shield/DesertStorm Nov90-Mar91.  On the flight home we were still dressed in our Desert Uniforms and I sat next to a lady who did not say one word to me the entire flight from Delaware to Phoenix.  Upon arrival to Phoenix the pilot said the usual thank you for flying with us and lets give our service members a large round of applause for defending our country.  The lady turned to me finally with a funny look on her face and said "Oh I am sorry, were you in the war?"

It saddens me dearly that recognition to the men and women that defend our country are not given a hero's welcome or farewell.

[Laird Fraser of Lovatt]

Fair ye well, vallant warrior, may ye find rest at the days end.

AIRBORNE!

R.I.P, Brother.

[RenRobin]

Tis a sad day that yet another has left us.  I really do appreciate what each soldier has done for our country, regardless if they served in wartime or not.

I loved the series "Band of Brothers" as it reveled many things that happened over there that we never knew about.  Most soldiers of that generation, were men that came home and did not say a word about what they saw.  My grandfather was one of them and it was a rare thing if he ever spoke of World War II.

[Capt. Morgan]

Yah, sure this is a commercial made by a Beer Company...but it still chokes me up...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUrf6Qg4T4E

[Grov]

I hope I live a life half as worthwhile as Mr. Shifty and his generation do/did.

Rest in Peace, Sir.

[Just Randall]

Ya know, no matter where I go, when I see a service man or woman in uniform, I make it a point to stop whatever I am doing, walk up to them, and say "Thank you."

[Tammy]

CaptFletcher...I do the same.
I've had family in every branch of the service at one time or another. Both my grandfathers were in WWII...one (Navy) in the Pacific, and one (Army Air Corps) in Europe. Neither of them really talked alot about it.

[KeeperoftheBar]

I want a nationwide memorial service for Darrell "Shifty" Powers.

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 mean no disrespect but personally I do not believe the above was said by someone with the 101.  The "Screaming Eagles" did not jump into Arnhem.  They jumped near Eindhoven and captured bridges at Son & Veghel which were the southern most ones captured in Operation Market Garden.  The British 1st Airborn Division along with the 1st Independent Polish Brigade jumped at Arnhem while the 82nd jumped near Grave & Nijmegen.

While all people who have served in the military get my utmost respect and especially those that served in combat, I have never met an actual veteran who would get the location so wrong.  They are rightly too proud of their acts to make a mistake like that.

Never the less, a prayer and a toast should be made to Shifty.

Sorry for being so picky but it is my job and WWII is my hobby.
(steps down from soapbox)