MILITARY & MOTORCYCLES_JANUARY 17, 2014

Published on January 17, 2014 under Born To Ride

Lone Survivor

First of all here is my disclaimer prior to writing this column. I am by no stretch of the imagination a movie critic. Sue will tell you we have been to fewer movies than you can count on both hands, make that one hand in the 43 years we have been married.

Now that I have that out of the way I want to expound on the movie ‘Lone Survivor’ which I saw Friday. As I sat awaiting the start of the movie along with 45-50 others (mostly my age or older) I became a little apprehensive as what to expect. When the movie started I was memorized by the factual account portrayed on the screen versus the book which I read several times.

I have written, studied and hung out with Navy SEALs (Annual Muster in Fort Pierce at the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum). These men are the real deal and I won’t allow anyone to forget what they do and why they do it.

When things go wrong, which they do in the military, these men will fulfill their ‘Oath of Enlistment’ which they took to protect their country to the death.

That oath starts out with these words “I _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; and ends with, So help me God.”

SEALs will uphold that promise to the end, whereas politicians in Washington won’t uphold the same basic oath past breakfast. Who do we believe those who will die for their country or those who blow a lot of smoke up our shirt tails?

As we get older we seem to develop more active tear ducts and it becomes easier to cry. That happened to me as I was coming out of the theater Friday. I felt like a dork in the lobby until I turned to hold the door open for others leaving. Apparently there were a bunch of dorks who saw the movie.

When I Goggled ‘Lone Survivor’ I came upon a video where Jake Tapper (CNN) interviewed Marcus Luttrell and Mark Wahlberg regarding the movie. At one point Tapper said to Marcus “One of the emotions that I felt, while watching the film is first of all the hopelessness of the situation — how horrific it was and also just all that loss of life of these brave American men. Wasn’t it a waste of life for the mission you were on?”

This came from a man who holds s degree in history. If he would read about Germany prior to and during WWII, he would understand where we are going currently as a nation and what needs to be done. To view the video go to: http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/01/11/they-died-for-nothing-marcus-luttrell-hits-back-at-cnn-host-in-tense-interview/.

Should you have any comment and/or suggestions please email me at PGRTerry@gmail.com. Have a great weekend and remember; ‘It’s not about the war, it’s about the warriors.”

God Bless America and all those who serve to protect us.

For those in the local area

Carmike Royal Palm 20 Theaters located at 5125 26th St E, Bradenton has the ‘one of a kind’ custom built motorcycle which was presented to Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell who is known as the ‘Lone Survivor’ currently on display.

The motorcycle had been on display at the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum in Fort Pierce for a number of years prior to their renovation project.

For more information please call Carmike Royal Palm 20 at (941) 752-3796. There is no charge to view the motorcycle.

Photos of ‘Lone Survivor’ can be viewed at – jeris-springer.com. This bike and movie have to be seen to be believed.