I am always hesitant to print LETTERS I receive via email because it seems that nine times out of ten, they are MADE-UP. Indeed some of the facts may be real, such as the person and what he did in life, but the actual described events, well...
The person in question? Darrell "Shifty" Powers, 101st Airborne Division, 506 PIR, Co E. Many of you DO know him. Yup, he's the guy from BAND OF BROTHERS series. Easy Company. HE died last month, June 2009. He was a great G.I. Joe. A real good guy.
What was the letter about? Ya, you are probably curious. Well it goes on to tell the audience about Shifty and explains about his passing, and how "the author" met Shifty at an airport years ago. He then goes on to tell a story of their perchance meeting, and how he came to know and respect the man. The letter then goes on about "the author" offering to switch seats with the vet, since Shifty was in coach and he was in First Class. Shifty declines and says something along the lines, "No, son, you enjoy that seat. Just knowing that there are still some who remember what we did and still care is enough to make an old man very happy."
The remaining paragraphs describe how there was no media coverage of his passing, no weeping fans on TV, etc., etc.
As I stated, I cannot authenticate this letter, so will not print it. It tells a good tale, and makes some good points, but were the events true? They could be. But I've seen several such letters recently after the death of Michael Jackson. And they all have one theme; why no media coverage for our real heroes? Yes, we all know that it's true, but alas, that is how the world turns. . 
However, I will post a note about Shifty, and maybe only a few hundred people will see it, but these are (you are) the kind of folks who do give a damn. So here's to Shifty. I loved watching his portrayal in Band of Brothers. Loved reading about him in books. He was someone you'd want next to you in a foxhole. Someone you'd call your brother. REST IN PEACE.
Shifty will be remembered, because of that HBO series, and many of the veterans reading this will be remembered because of this site, and sites just like it. But most will be forgotten, and that is a REAL SHAME. That is the bottom line...
Proud Daughter of Walter (Monday) Poniedzialek
540th Engineer Combat Regiment, 2833rd Bn, H&S Co, 4th Platoon
There's "No Bridge Too Far"