Friday, 10 Feb 12.  Operation Wounded Warrior at the Pentagon.  Wounded vets are given the option to tour the Pentagon while they are getting care at Walter Reed.  They are brought into the building with hospital escorts, and if they want, family members.  The Pentagon inhabitants are told when this is going to happen, so that the young men and women who are doing the fighting and getting wounded for us can be properly greeted and thanked for giving their service to a nation that has in many quarters ignored them.  Here is what I noticed this last Friday, between trying unsuccessfully to keep tears from welling up as I saw these brave young ones who were in some cases badly hurt, but coming back.

The greeting hall is second floor fourth corridor, from where the hero's turn into the building in the E ring (closest to the outside) all the way to where the corridor joins the A ring.  I arrived there about 20 minutes before the warriors were due, and found a place about halfway down the corridor, since more than 100 were already lined up waiting taking up the closer places.  I believe that it was an Army four piece brass band waiting as well.  In the next few minutes the corridor filled up completely, I would guess the total number of us exceeded 300.

The clapping, rhythmical, constant, powerful, started before the first of our guests turned into the corridor.  The military march music added to that a moment later.  Most of us had served, or were serving, and so this was an emotional event, this thanking.  The first man rounded the corner a moment later, and the clapping rose in power, a non-verbal roar going through us as we saw him.  He had lost a leg, had a wife or girlfriend walking a step of so behind with the attendant, and was obviously surprised at the greeting.  People, including generals and colonels, reaching out to shake hands, the "thank yous" from all sides seemed to bring a touch of a smile to his face.  And so it went for another 20 minutes or so.  Some holding their kids, some followed by their kids and wives.  Most of the kids just hugged Daddy, just glad to be with the biggest man in their life, who had been almost taken away from them in their service.  Some got into the moment, walking proudly, knowing now forever that their Daddy is someone special.  The wives, girlfriends usually looked surprised, but glad to see the attention focused on their Man.  There were a few wounded women warriors as well, though none had kids with them.  One soldier in a wheelchair, who had several members of the greeting group recognize him when they stepped out and shook his hand, greeted him, was glad to see them again.  Warriors greeting one another.  Some in uniform, some in civilian cloths.  One with a service dog, companions now in yet another chapter of best friends man and dog.  Some caught up in the emotion, their faces reflecting the thanks we gave them with thanks for us taking the time to greet them, some not showing much emotion at all.  It was an honor to be there.  To let them know that someone knew, cared.  Made no difference to us how badly wounded, what their personal circumstances were, they were all ours.  All part of us.

So young.  These men and women are so young.  Some had already been fitted for the prosthetics that will be part of their lives forever, walking with crutches or in some cases without even those.  Proud, defying the wounds and enemy who wounded them.  They showed us all how spirited the American fighting man/woman is, showed us the high quality of those that swear to serve the United States and go into harm's way to make this country strong.

Most poignant moment.  Another wheelchair, another young warrior without a foot.  At this time I'm having a hard time not showing the tears that have been near the surface since the first man came by.  Tears of thanks both for what they have done for us and that they survived, tears for their loss, tears of joy and thanks for their families.  He glances up, where I am clapping like a maniac.  And mouths the words "Thank You".  Imagine.  He is thanking me for taking an hour out of my day to pay due honor to him and his fellow warriors.  My return "Thank You" was all I could manage ...  

All honor to our men and women in uniform!