WHEN THE MUSIC STOPPED

For those who are unaware, at a military theater theNational Anthem is played before every movie.

From a Chaplain in Iraq :

I recently attended a showing of'Superman 3' here at LSA Anaconda ( Balad Airport inIraq , north of Bagdad ). We have a large auditorium weuse for movies, as well as memorial services and otherlarge gatherings.As is the custom back in the States, we stood andsn apped to attention when the National Anthem beganbefore the main feature.

All was going as planneduntil about three-quarters of the way through when TheNational Anthem music stopped. Now, what wou ld happenif this occurred with 1,000 18-22 year-olds back inthe States? I imagine there would be hoots, catcalls,laughter, a few rude comments, and everyone would sitdown and call for a movie. Of course, that is, if theyhad stood for the National Anthem in the first place.

Here, the 1,000 soldiers continued to stand atattention, eyes fixed forward. The music started again. The soldiers continued to quietly stand atattention. And again, at the same point, the musicstopped. What would you expect to happen? Even here I would imagine laughter, as everyone finally sat down and expected the movie to start. But here, you could have heard a pin drop .

Every soldier continued to stand at attention. Suddenly there was a lone voice, then a dozen, and quickly the room was filled with the voices of a thousand soldiers, finishing where the recording leftoff: 'And the rockets red glare, the bombs burstingin air, gave proof through the night that our flag wasstill there. Oh, say does that Star-Spangled Banner yet wave, o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave'.

It was the most inspiring moment I have had here in Iraq . I wanted you to know what kind of soldiers are serving you here. Remember them as they fight for you! Pass this along as a reminder to others to be ever in prayer for all our soldiers serving us here, at home and abroad. For many have already paid the ultimate price.

Written by: Chaplain Jim Higgins