fgoodwin Posted February 22, 2009 Share Posted February 22, 2009 If you get HBO, you have to watch this. I don't care what your political views are, I think you'll be touched by this movie. There is a very stirring scene toward the end of the show that includes some local Boy Scouts. I don't want to give away any spoilers (just google the movie title and you can read all about it). Once you see it, I think you'll agree it is both sad and a moving tribute to a fallen soldier and his escort. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwd-scouter Posted February 22, 2009 Share Posted February 22, 2009 Watched it last night. Good thing I had a box of tissues nearby. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kahuna Posted February 22, 2009 Share Posted February 22, 2009 Thanks for bringing that up. I don't have HBO, but I reserved it on Netflix when it comes out on DVD. I saw a review in the local paper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hal_Crawford Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 I saw it last night; excellent film; very moving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dg98adams Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 I recorded it on my DVR. Good movie. I told my son about it...he might watch it for Citizen in the Community Merit Badge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SR540Beaver Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 I've recorded it, but have not had time to sit down and watch it. It will be a family event when I do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GKlose Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 After watching it the night it premiered on HBO, I found the original article (LtCol Michael Strobl's "trip report") online: http://www.mca-marines.org/gazette/Strobl.pdf This article is just as moving, I think. There was only a little bit of artistic license in the movie. Guy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SR540Beaver Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 Good grief! I'm sitting at my desk at work with tears in my eyes after reading the article. I'm not sure I can watch the movie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hal_Crawford Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 The movie is the sort of thing that makes grown men cry. They show (without being too graphic), the care that the folks at Dover take to clean and dress the remains. You never see more than a hand still dirty from battle as they remove his watch and then later you see them cleaning that hand. There is a shot of a line of combat boots, some spattered in blood. There are also shots of parts of the immaculate Marine dress blues in which they have dressed the body. Much of the effect also comes from faces as they react to what they see. It is extremely well done. Hal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GKlose Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 That was one theme that really resonated with me. Here all all these "technicians" (I forget their actual title) taking extreme care, with dignity and respect, preparing the body and the personal effects. The watch, for example, is cleaned and left undisturbed (it is still set to Baghdad time) and it is not viewed again (except by the escort, who carries them on his person until they are turned over) until they are handed over to the next of kin. How would it look if when a watch is handed over it is still dirty and bloody? My first exposure to this kind of thing happened at a funeral almost two years ago. The deceased, an old friend and father to my closest friends, had been a Marine in WWII, serving in the South Pacific. The local VFW had sent a color guard to the funeral, but there were also a couple of (I assume) active-duty Marines that came to the funeral, in full uniform. The flag wasn't draped (cremation), but it was handed over to my friends, who were seated. One of the Marines, making direct eye contact, said something very quietly to one of them as the flag was being handed over. I couldn't hear it, I could only see the intensity with which the remarks were being made. Later that evening, I was able to ask my friend what the Marine said to him. He said that he was thanked, and told that our country was what it was because there had been young men and women willing to volunteer when the country needed them, and they had been asked to make sacrifices and did so willingly, and that everyone forgets that the families left at home made sacrifices as well in order for their loved ones to serve. It was chilling to hear this, and to have witnessed it. My friend tried to describe the intensity with which it was delivered, but he simply said that he had no doubt that the Marine meant every bit of what he said. I was very impressed that the Marine Corps would go to that trouble to send someone to a small funeral in the middle of pretty much nowhere, for a veteran from 60-some years ago. I think the Marine Corps really knows how to do this right. Later on, I learned a little more about his service in WWII. He had started going to Marine Corps reunions, with his sons occasionally tagging along. They'd met some much younger Marines, who would ask where their dad fought. When they answered Pellelieu, the younger Marines could only respond "Whoa!". I looked it up, and now I understand. I'm also impressed that these younger Marines would have that sense of history. I think the movie is excellent. I didn't know anything about it before I watched it, and I'm glad I did. I'd also agree it isn't easy to watch. Guy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hal_Crawford Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 Both my parents are buried in Arlington National Cemetery. My father was a combat engineer and a veteran of WW2 (from the Normandy campaign to Vienna) and Korea (both my parents were in Seoul when the North invaded). He started as a draftee in 1940 and retired as a full colonel in 1969. At his funeral, when the young sergeant presented me the flag he said something to the affect of "On behalf of the Secretary of the Army and a grateful nation I present this flag in honor of your loved one's service and sacrifice". Hal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stricklat Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 it seems to me that whatever side of the aisle you are on, those who were, or are, BSA or military, in one shape or another, undestand the great sacrifice that occurs. I am young. When i watched this with my wife, she didn't understand it. Here i am balling like a baby, while my wife is bored. I tried to explain, but... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fgoodwin Posted March 22, 2009 Author Share Posted March 22, 2009 It hardly seems fitting that all I can give is a few words in exchange for the service of our men & women in uniform, especially those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. But I am eternally grateful for their service, and my heart and prayers go out to the families who also sacrificed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwd-scouter Posted March 22, 2009 Share Posted March 22, 2009 My husband served in the Navy. After he watched "Taking Chance" he told me about standing watch over a deceased naval officer who wished to be buried at sea. He didn't know what took place before, but the casket was never left alone while on board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoDakScouter Posted March 25, 2009 Share Posted March 25, 2009 This was one of the best movies I have seen. Very solemn. I did see the Boy Scouts at the end of the movie. Very appropriate. Recommend this as a good family movie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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