Trashy
Registered
Subject: A True Memorial Service: You're Invited ...
We're hearing a lot today about big splashy memorial
services... for Michael Jackson and other celebrities?
I want a nationwide e-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, 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.
You truly deserve recognition and admiration in my value book!
*********************************************
"A nation without heroes is nothing.."
We're hearing a lot today about big splashy memorial
services... for Michael Jackson and other celebrities?
I want a nationwide e-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, 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.
You truly deserve recognition and admiration in my value book!
*********************************************
"A nation without heroes is nothing.."
