A Pin Drop!

When I am afraid, I put my trust in You. In God whose name I praise, in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? Psalm 56:3-4

There are very few times in my life where something happened that was so gut wrenching that I literally thought, “You could hear a pin drop.” The first remembrance of an event of this nature was the day John Kenedy was shot in Dallas on November 22, 1963. I was sitting in 4th period English class when our principal came over the PA system in our school and announced the news. The usually talkative class became deathly silent as we tried to process the assasination. One could hear a pin drop.

The next remembrance was in the fall of 1968. I was working with my Grandmother at her shop in downtown Donalsonville when a black car pulled up outside. Two soldiers emerged and solemnly walked to the business next to ours. When they emerged they were supporting a friend of mine who was weeping uncontrollably. They had come to tell her that her young husband had been killed in Viet Nam. All activity ceased as we all bowed our heads in prayer. One could hear a pin drop.

On September 11, as I was walking the hall of Tritt Elementary to gather my class from lunch, a crowd was gathered around a television watching as a plane flew into the World Trade Center tower. Absolute horror was on everyone’s face. One could hear a pin drop.

Probably the most surreal pin drop moment was on December 1,1969 when college friends at UGA gathered together in front of the television to nervously listen as the draft lottery numbers were called by birth dates. The reactions when the numbers were called went from relief to absolute disbelief, fear, and horror. These guys were about to enter a war for their country for which they had no part in starting, yet they felt the allegiance to their country. Many of our friends went, and many of them gave their lives for this country. You could hear a pin drop that evening.

Today we honor our veterans of all wars. These men and women deserve not only honor and recognition, but also our heartfelt appreciation and thanks for the sacrifices that they made for this country and its people. Randy and I have been honored to know veterans of many of the wars, and it is always an honor to listen to their testament of the bravery and sacrifice of their respective units and friends. One could hear a pin drop as they speak.

It’s sad that many today probably have little or no idea of the courage and dedication that the veterans of these wars have displayed. We don’t know the trauma they endured and perhaps still do. We forget to thank them on a daily basis, and many of the younger generation is oblivious to what their service to this country cost them personally. We forget to remember. One can hear a pin drop.

The following story illustrates this lapse of thankfulness. Robert Whiting, an elderly gentleman of 83, arrived in Paris by plane. At French cusoms, he took a few minutes to locate his passport in his carry on luggage. “You have been to France before, monsieur?” the customs officer asked sarcastically. Mr. Whiting admitted that he had been to France previously. “Then you should know enough to have your passport ready.” The American said,, “The last time I was here, I didn’t have to show it.” “Impossible…Americans always have to show their passports on arrival in France!” the customs officer replied. The American senior gave the Frenchman a hard look. Then, he quietly explained, “Well, when I came ashore at Omaha Beach on D-Day in 1944 to help liberate this country, I couldn’t find a single Frenchman to show a passport to.” I can only imagine that you could have heard a pin drop.

Today we thank God for all of our veterans, and thank you for your service to this United States of America. As I think of our veterans, I recall the many military functions where Taps was played. Brigadere General David Alan Butterfield is credited for creating the melody for Taps in 1862. Butterfield then asked his brigade bugler, Oliver W. Norton to play the notes. It became a custom for the lone bugler to play Taps at the end of the military day to signal “lights out,” during patriotic memorial services, and for military funerals. The words are a fitting tribute for this Veteran’s Day.

Day is done. Gone the sun. From the hillls, From the lake, From the skies. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. Go to sleep, Peaceful sleep. May the soldier Or sailor, God keep. On the land, Or the deep, Safe in sleep. Love, good night, Must thou go, When the day and the night, Need you so? All is well. Speedeth all to their rest. Fades the light; And from afar; Goeth day, And the stars Shineth bright. Fare Thee well, Day is gone, Night is on. Thanks and praise, For our days. ‘Neath the sun, Neath the stars, Neath the sky. As we go, This we know, God is nigh.

God bless our veterans!