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Post by Alice on Jan 26, 2006 8:45:09 GMT -5
The elderly parking lot attendant wasn't in a good mood! Neither was Sam Bierstock. It was around 1 a.m., and Bierstock, Delray Beach, Fla., eye doctor, business consultant, corporate speaker and musician, was bone tired after appearing at an event. He pulled up in his car, and the parking attendant began to speak. "I took two bullets for this country and look what I'm doing," he said bitterly. At first, Bierstock didn't know what to say to the World War II veteran. But he rolled down his window and told the man, "Really, from the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you." Then the old soldier began to cry. "That really got to me," Bierstock says. Cut to today. Bierstock, 58, and John Melnick, 54, of Pompano Beach -- a member of Bierstock's band, Dr. Sam and the Managed Care Band -- have written a song inspired by that old soldier in the airport parking lot. The mournful "Before You Go" does more than salute those who fought in W.W.II. It encourages people to go out of their way to thank the aging warriors before they die. "If we had lost that particular war, our whole way of life would have been shot," says Bierstock, who plays harmonica. "The WW2 soldiers are now dying at the rate of about 2,000 every day. I thought we needed to thank them." The song is striking a chord. Within four days of Bierstock placing it on the Web www.beforeyougo.us/ , the song and accompanying photo essay have bounced around nine countries, producing tears and heartfelt thanks from veterans, their sons and daughters and grandchildren
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thehawke
freely admits to licking rocks
My Lord and Master
Member since January 2006
Posts: 866
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Post by thehawke on Jan 26, 2006 12:20:35 GMT -5
My mother's favorite brother died in the pacific theater. I got to thank a bunch of WW2 vets when we went to a March for Peace in DC in September. These old guys had tears in their eyes, both thankful to be there and afraid for what their country is becoming.
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Post by BAZ on Jan 26, 2006 12:37:01 GMT -5
I don't often quote bumper stickers but "If you love your freedom, thank a veteran." So simple and true, it is something that I believe we don't do enough of.
Rest in Peace Pop-Pop!
Torpedoman Third Class
United States Navy
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Post by driftwood on Jan 26, 2006 14:06:50 GMT -5
" The Greatest Generation "
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offbeat
no posts
Member since May 2010
Posts: 0
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Post by offbeat on Jan 26, 2006 14:38:08 GMT -5
Taking my father in law to DC this spring to see the WWII memorial. He spent some of his youth in the Asian front.
We had a vacation down in New Orleans last spring. He wore his WWII hat. I was amazed at how many "locals" took the time to say thank you to him. It was very interesting that those people that took the time to say thanks didn't "appear" to have what most Americans would think you would "need" to be thankful. A real eye opener!!
Thank you!!
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stefan
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Jan 26, 2006 14:56:47 GMT -5
My Uncle was shot in Vietnam- Came home alive but hurting- I was 4 years old- and so happy to see him- I jumped on the leg he had been shot in- he tossed me accross the room- then hugged me for the next 2 hours- now some 35 years latter he is slowly dieing of cancer- Fighting all the way- but the Agent Orange he was exposed to is winning. I love him very much and will miss him terribly when he finially gives up the fight (but he is fighting- and that is what counts) So to this Veteran I say "Thank You Uncle PAT!"
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