Phil C
04-21-2003, 11:09 AM
>ANN MARGARET AND THE VETERAN
>
>You may enjoy reading this story... following is a copy of the story
about
>a Viet Nam vet and Ann Margaret as told by the vet's wife.
>
>Richard, (my husband), never really talked a lot about his time in
Viet Nam
>other than he had been shot by a sniper. However, he had a rather
grainy, 8
>x10 black &white photo he had taken at a USO show of Ann Margaret with
Bob
>Hope in the background that was one of his treasures.
>
>A few years ago, Ann Margaret was doing a book signing at a local
>bookstore. Richard wanted to see if he could get her to sign the
treasured
>photo so he arrived at the bookstore at 12 o'clock for the 7:30
signing.
>When I got there after work, the line went all the way around the
>bookstore, circled the parking lot, and disappeared behind a parking
>garage.
>
>Before her appearance, bookstore, employees announced that she would
sign
>only her book and no memorabilia would be permitted. Richard was
>disappointed, but wanted to show her the photo and let her know how
much
>those shows meant to lonely GI's so far from home. Ann Margaret came
out
>looking as beautiful as ever and as 2nd one, it was soon Richard's
turn.
>He presented the book for her signature and then took out the photo.
When
>he did, there were many shouts from the employees that she would not
sign
>it. Richard said, "I understand. I just wanted her to see it".
>
>She took one look at the photo, tears welled up in her eyes and she
said,
>"This is one of my gentlemen from Viet Nam and I most certainly will
sign
>his photo. I know what these men did for their country and I always
have
>time for "my gentlemen". With that, she pulled Richard across the
table and
>planted a big kiss on him. She then made quite a to-do about the
bravery of
>the young men she met over the years, how much she admired them, and
how
>much she appreciated them. There weren't too many dry eyes among those
>close enough to hear. She then posed for pictures and acted as if he
was
>the only one there.
>
>Later at dinner, Richard was very quiet. When I asked if he'd like to
talk
>about it, my big strong husband broke down in tears. "That's the first
time
>anyone ever thanked me for my time in the Army", he said. That night
was
>a turning point for him. He walked a little straighter and, for the
first
>time in years, was proud to have been a Vet.
>
>I'll never forget Ann Margaret for her graciousness and how much that
small
>act of kindness meant to my husband. I now make it a point to say
˜Thank
>You™ to every person I come across who served in our Armed Forces.
>
>Freedom does not come cheap and I am grateful for all those who have
served
>their country. If you'd like to pass on this story, feel free to do
so.
>Perhaps it will help others to become aware of how important it is to
>acknowledge the contribution our service people make.
>
>With global circulation... this may reach Jane Fonda.
>
>
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>
>You may enjoy reading this story... following is a copy of the story
about
>a Viet Nam vet and Ann Margaret as told by the vet's wife.
>
>Richard, (my husband), never really talked a lot about his time in
Viet Nam
>other than he had been shot by a sniper. However, he had a rather
grainy, 8
>x10 black &white photo he had taken at a USO show of Ann Margaret with
Bob
>Hope in the background that was one of his treasures.
>
>A few years ago, Ann Margaret was doing a book signing at a local
>bookstore. Richard wanted to see if he could get her to sign the
treasured
>photo so he arrived at the bookstore at 12 o'clock for the 7:30
signing.
>When I got there after work, the line went all the way around the
>bookstore, circled the parking lot, and disappeared behind a parking
>garage.
>
>Before her appearance, bookstore, employees announced that she would
sign
>only her book and no memorabilia would be permitted. Richard was
>disappointed, but wanted to show her the photo and let her know how
much
>those shows meant to lonely GI's so far from home. Ann Margaret came
out
>looking as beautiful as ever and as 2nd one, it was soon Richard's
turn.
>He presented the book for her signature and then took out the photo.
When
>he did, there were many shouts from the employees that she would not
sign
>it. Richard said, "I understand. I just wanted her to see it".
>
>She took one look at the photo, tears welled up in her eyes and she
said,
>"This is one of my gentlemen from Viet Nam and I most certainly will
sign
>his photo. I know what these men did for their country and I always
have
>time for "my gentlemen". With that, she pulled Richard across the
table and
>planted a big kiss on him. She then made quite a to-do about the
bravery of
>the young men she met over the years, how much she admired them, and
how
>much she appreciated them. There weren't too many dry eyes among those
>close enough to hear. She then posed for pictures and acted as if he
was
>the only one there.
>
>Later at dinner, Richard was very quiet. When I asked if he'd like to
talk
>about it, my big strong husband broke down in tears. "That's the first
time
>anyone ever thanked me for my time in the Army", he said. That night
was
>a turning point for him. He walked a little straighter and, for the
first
>time in years, was proud to have been a Vet.
>
>I'll never forget Ann Margaret for her graciousness and how much that
small
>act of kindness meant to my husband. I now make it a point to say
˜Thank
>You™ to every person I come across who served in our Armed Forces.
>
>Freedom does not come cheap and I am grateful for all those who have
served
>their country. If you'd like to pass on this story, feel free to do
so.
>Perhaps it will help others to become aware of how important it is to
>acknowledge the contribution our service people make.
>
>With global circulation... this may reach Jane Fonda.
>
>
__________________________________________________ _______________
MSN 8 with e-mail virus protection service: 2 months FREE*
http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus
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Move to folder... [New Folder]
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