Marines to the Rescue

America at its best

A chaplain, who happened to be assigned to the Pentagon, told of an incident that happened right after Flight 77 hit the Pentagon on 9/11. A daycare facility inside the Pentagon had many children, including infants who were in heavy cribs. The daycare supervisor, looking at all the children they needed to evacuate, was in a panic over what they could do. There were many children, mostly toddlers, as well as the infants that would need to be taken out with the cribs. There was no time to try to bundle them into carriers and strollers.  Just then a young Marine came running into the center and asked what they needed. After hearing what the center director was trying to do, he ran back out into the hallway and disappeared. The director thought, "Well, here we are, on our own." About 2 minutes later, that Marine returned with 40 other Marines in  Tow. Each of them grabbed a crib with a child, and the rest started  Gathering up toddlers. The director and her staff then helped them take all the children out of the center and down toward the park near the Potomac and the Pentagon. Once they got about 3/4 of a mile outside the building, the Marines  Stopped in the park, and then did a fabulous thing- they formed a  Circle with the cribs, which were quite sturdy and heavy, like the  Covered wagons in the Old West. Inside this circle of cribs, they put the toddlers, to keep them from wandering off. Outside this circle were the 40 Marines, forming a perimeter around the children and waiting for instructions. There they remained until the parents could be notified and come get their children.The chaplain then said, "I don't think any of us saw nor heard of this on any of the news stories of the day. It was an incredible story of our men there.” There wasn't a dry eye in the room. The thought of those Marines and what they did and how fast they reacted; could we expect any less from them?  It was one of the most touching stories from the Pentagon. Remember Ronald Reagan's great compliment: "Most of us wonder if our lives make any difference. Marines don't have that problem." God Bless the USA, our troops, and you. It's the Military, not the politicians that ensures our right to life,liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.It's the Military who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag.  Pray for our men and women, who have served and are currently serving our country, and pray for those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for freedom.