THE MUSIC STOPPED

[frawin]

THE MUSIC STOPPED
>>
>> For those who are not aware:  At all military base theaters, the
>> National Anthem is played before the movie begins.
>>
>> This is written from a Chaplain in Iraq :
>>
>>
>> I recently attended a showing of 'Superman 3' here at LSA Anaconda.
>> We have a large auditorium we use for movies, as well as memorial
>> services and other large gatherings.  As is the custom at all
>> military bases, we stood to attention when the National Anthem began
>> before the main feature.  All was going well until three-quarters of
>> the way through The National Anthem, the music stopped.
>>
>> Now, what would happen if this occurred with 1,000 18-22 year-olds
>> back in the States? I imagine there would be hoots, catcalls,
>> laughter, a few rude comments, and everyone would sit down and yell
>> for the movie to begin.  Of course, that is, if they had stood for
>> the National Anthem in the first place.
>>
>> Here in Iraq , 1,000 Soldiers continued to stand at attention, eyes
>> fixed forward.  The music started again and the Soldiers continued
>> to quietly stand at attention.  But again, at the same point, the
>> music stopped.  What would you expect 1000 Soldiers standing at
>> attention to do ??  Frankly, I expected some laughter, and everyone
>> would eventually sit down and wait for the movie to start.
>>
>> But No!!... You could have heard a pin drop, while every Soldier
>> continued to stand at attention.  Suddenly, there was a lone voice
>> from the front of the auditorium, then a dozen voices, and soon the
>> room was filled with the voices of a thousand soldiers, finishing
>> where the recording left off:
>>
>> "And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof
>> through the night that our flag was still there. Oh, say does that
>> Star Spangled Banner yet wave, o'er the land of the free, and the
>> home of the brave."
>>
>> It was the most inspiring moment I have had in Iraq and I wanted you
>> to know what kind of Soldiers are serving you.  Remember them as
>> they fight for us!
>> ----------------------
>> Pass this along as a reminder to others to be ever in prayer for all
>> our soldiers serving us here at home and abroad.  Many have already
>> paid the ultimate price..
>>
>> Written by Chaplain Jim Higgins
>> LSA Anaconda is at the Ballad Airport in Iraq , north of Baghdad
>>
> Ever notice the older we get, the more we're like computers?
>
> We start out with lots of memory and drive, then we become outdated
> and eventually have to get our parts replaced.
>


i THINK THERE ARTE STILL LOTS OF YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN  IN AMERICA THAT WOULD HAVE REMAINED STANDING AND HONORED THE FLAG. WHILE I DO SEE LOTS OF DISAPPOINTING YOUNG PEOPPLE IN AMERICA, I STILL SEE LOTS OF YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN THAT SUPER YOUNG INDIVIDUALS.
>

[W. Gray]

The Army and Air Force Exchange Service is a government owned for profit company incorporated in 1941. In the Army, the company is known as the PX and in the Air Force, the company is known as the BX.

Profits generated by this corporation go entirely to provide Morale, Welfare, and Recreation services to the military and their families. Besides the PX/BX service, the company operates military movie theaters and provides movies to those theaters. Admission price is minimal.

The Navy has separate PX/BX operations as do the Marine Corps, and Coast Guard.

At one time, Hollywood provided first run movies to military theaters before those movies were released to the general public. I can recall watching stills for previews, because the movies were so new there were no motion picture previews yet available from Hollywood.That Hollywood generosity with new movies began fading as I was leaving the service and I do not think that happens any more.

I can remember paying 35 cents to see a movie in an Army theater when the price on the outside was $1.50, or so. I don't know what a theater price might now be. As near as I can remember, the Exchange Service provided 16mm copies to remote areas where there was no theater and there was no cost to the soldier.

Military people and their famIies actually looked forward to standing for the National Anthem before the movie began and everyone immediately arose from their seat--and no one except for a young child, here and there, moved.

A number of years ago a proposal was made to stop the playing of the national anthem before a movie began in military theaters because of the costs of making, renewing, and distributing thousands of filmstrips worldwide to the theaters.

There was an instantaneous uproar from the troops and the effort was dropped.

[Janet Harrington]

That was fantastic.  Thank you.

[flo]

Frank, that brought chills to my arms.  Thanks for posting that story.