Taking Chance- HBO

Chance Phelps

I'm anxiously anticipating an HBO original movie premiering this weekend. Taking Chance stars Kevin Bacon as Marine Lt. Col. Mike Strobl in the film which is based on the true story of an escort officer and his cross country journey to bring the remains of 19-year-old Marine Chance Phelps back to his hometown of Dubois, Wyoming.



Colonel Strobl's moving account does more justice to the story than I ever could. Take 10 minutes and read it here: link.

Reading that reminded me of all the times people bought me lunch or a drink or thanked me simply because I was wearing the uniform.

I also remembered the time we were delayed on the tarmac at Houston and the pilot told us that we were waiting for an aircraft carrying the remains of a fallen troop to receive proper honors. Looking out the window, I saw a number of the airport fire trucks lined the runway and shot cannons of water in an arch over the aircraft carrying the remains. I'm getting choked up just remembering the image.

It's a sad fact of war that we inevitably will lose young, promising lives. However, it says so much about the American people that we recognize this and honor those in uniform and revere those that gave the ultimate sacrifice. While PTSD and military/veteran suicides remain as real problems, we've come a very long way since Vietnam and it shows. God Bless America and her citizens.

Taking Chance premiers Saturday, Feb. 21 at 8 pm.
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