I was sent the following email this morning by Robert Thompson. I have listened to it myself and it IS a beautiful tribute. Get out the hankies...

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Veterans of WWII are now dying at a rate of about 2,000 per day. I encountered the following article in the Union-Tribune this morning, and checked out the referenced song (link in the article). It is a legitimate link, virus free, and an OUTSTANDING song in memory of our WWII veterans.

PLEASE, as a favor to me, take the time to read the article below and listen to the song at the following link. It may be the most valuable reading and listening you do in a long time.

NOTE: If the link in the article doesn't work, just go to www.beforeyougo.us. It will get you there.

Article************************

The elderly parking lot attendant wasn't in a good mood.

Neither was Sam Bierstock. It was around 1 a.m., and Bierstock, a Delray

Beach, Fla. , eye doctor, business consultant, corporate speaker and

musician, was bone tired after appearing at an event.

He pulled up in his car, and the parking attendant began to speak. "I

took two bullets for this country and look what I'm doing," he said

bitterly.

At first, Bierstock didn't know what to say to the World War II veteran.

But he rolled down his window and told the man, "Really, from the bottom

of my heart, I want to thank you."

Then the old soldier began to cry.

"That really got to me," Bierstock says.

Cut to today.

Bierstock, 58, and John Melnick, 54, of Pompano Beach - a member of

Bierstock's band, Dr. Sam and the Managed Care Band - have written a

song inspired by that old soldier in the airport parking lot. The

mournful "Before You Go" does more than salute those who fought in WWII.

It encourages people to go out of their way to thank the aging warriors

before they die.

"If we had lost that particular war, our whole way of life would have

been shot," says Bierstock, who plays harmonica. "Every ethnic minority

would be dead. And the soldiers are now dying at the rate of about 2,000

every day. I thought we needed to thank them."

The song is striking a chord. Within four days of Bierstock placing it

on the Web www.beforeyougo.us, the

song and accompanying photo essay have bounced around nine countries,

producing tears and heartfelt thanks from veterans, their sons and

daughters and grandchildren.

"It made me cry," wrote one veteran's son. Another sent an e-mail saying

that only after his father consumed several glasses of wine would he

discuss "the unspeakable horrors" he and other soldiers had witnessed in

places such as Anzio, Iwo Jima, Bataan and Omaha Beach. "I can never

thank them enough," the son wrote. "Thank you for thinking about them."

Bierstock and Melnick thought about shipping it off to a professional

singer, maybe a Lee Greenwood type, but because time was running out for

so many veterans, they decided it was best to release it quickly, for

free, on the Web. They've sent the song to Sen. John McCain and others

in Washington. Already they have been invited to perform it in Houston

for a Veterans Day tribute - this after just a few days on the Web. They

hope every veteran in America gets a chance to hear it.

Hey, damn it, will people stop reminding that us old ww2 critters are dieng off at 2,000

per day. It may be true (and probably is, BUT). Besides that I just came from having

my pacemaker checked out this afternoon and was told the battery was still good for

8 to 10 years and then they would replace the whole thing. So look out, I may last a while, hopefully. But seriously, I realize it is happening and no one lives forever. I also

look at it this way-- I probably have lived for 60 years more than I should have, being

a Infantry rifleman in ETO in a Division with the highest casualties there. So I thank God for each day I have since then. To celibrate a good Dr. exam I took my ATV for a

ride in the back woods, came home and cracked open a jug of J.D. bourbon. So have

a great Vets day tomorro.

Damn, you drank without me again. Someday.... I'll go have a glass of wine and raise a toast to you tonight. And here's to you living at LEAST 8-10 years longer. After all, we have to find time to meet in person!

Hey, speaking of vets, how is our buddy doing. Haven't heard a word about Russ!

Marion : Russ is recovering from surgery and a couple of hospiall stays. Hi is kinda

tired and pretty exhausted but I hear from him quite a bit lately and he hopes to get

back on the forum shortly.

To all the veterans here I would like to wish a pleasant Veteran's Day. I appreciate you and all that you do.

I know I haven't met you all, but you can't hide forever. I will find you and HUG you eventually.

Hugs,

Brooke

How adorable. Let's all get in line. Maybe we should have a Veterans Hugs Day. Waddya think Brooke?