Moby, I just wanted to take a minute to let you know of something I saw that was so heartwarming to me that I knew I had to share it. I was at Walmart on Lexington Rd in Athens on Sunday afternoon and I saw a Marine standing just inside the store next to a Toys for Tots drop off. I watched as many people walked past him not even giving so much as a smile, then it happened, a little toddler walked over to him and waved and smiled and the Marine looked down at him, smiled, and reached his hand out to shake the toddler’s hand. It was very heartwarming. These men and women risk their lives to protect ours, the least we could do during this time of need is shake their hands and give them a simple, “Thank You!”
-Mandy Bouknight

Good afternoon Mandy,
I agree with you that expressing gratitude to those in military service is the very least we should do, but let me ask you this.
Did you also see anyone drop a toy in the Marine’s box? Did you donate a toy?
The “respect & gratitude” the deserve from us is to recognizeand appreciate their mission, and if able, assist in the completion of that mission.
Handshakes and children are certainly sweet, and a uniformed patriot from any branch of the United State Military will gladly shake any patriotic hand offered regardless of their age, and be genuinely grateful for the support.
But Mandy, it wasn’t his mission that day.
Toys For Tots donations are down 80% this year, and handshakes do not put presents under the trees of children who otherwise will have no toy under there.
Again, how many citizens did you witness assisting the young man in his mission?
Not very often is a Marine’s assignment something that civilians can help them in, but in this situation, the mission does not get accomplished without the help of the civilians that could have really helped that Marine that day.
The Parents of the child whose hand was shaken, did they contribute a toy? Shame on those that could & should have helped, but didn’t.
I’m sorry to not have taken this in the spirit you had in mind when you wrote it.
Believe me, I do see the “Norman Rockwell” moment this scene no doubt was.
It’s just that I’ve just stood by many of those boxes, and seen many of those marine hands shaken with no contribution to the cause they’re there for, and it makes me very sad.
May god bless you & your family, and grant you the merriest of Christmases. I wish you health, happiness, and prosperity in 2010.
MOBY