Ben Baltz’s mother was waiting and waiting for him. Her boy, aged 11 was running a race that for many kids would just be a mile long race. Ben’s leg was amputated when he was 6, and he was running on a mechanical knee and metal leg.
Now unbeknownst to his mother waiting for her son at the finish line, his prosthetic limb had broken right in the midst of the race.
His mom kept asking where he was and that she knew he would tire, but kept worrying and worrying.
Something had happened indeed. There were several adult male volunteers at the race. They were there just to help out with supplies and such at this Sea Turtle Tri kids’ Triathalon: setting up, just helping anyway they could.
When they saw Ben’s prosthesis break during the race, they sprinted out onto the track, and one man, raised the child onto his back and all the men ran forward, with the one man carrying Ben bounding forward, all of them running together.
Ben’s mother heard the announcer cry out: “Look! Ladies and Gentlemen, I want you to turn around and look at what’s happening on the course…”
And the crowd turned… and they saw… Ben being carried on the back of Matthew Morgan, Private First Class- Marine Detachment Corry Station– along with an entire passel of Marines running alongside in escort formation.
The cheers went up from the crowd, and the tears came rolling down many a face… as everyone witnessed for minutes on end, the child and the men, each in their own ways running along together… just a striking moment in time –promising this glimpse: that the Heart of the World was safe in the hearts of many souls on both sides of the track.
Forget the presidential debates for a minute. Think of one of the military service mottos, which should be REQUIRED for BOTH presidential contenders, for ALL running for election to anything at all… it is a motto that takes guts and brains and toughness and beauty of soul. That motto that made these fine Marines help find the finish line WITH Ben, teaching lessons in every direction is this one: “No one will be left behind”
I want to say: Put that motto in your pipes Romney and Obama, and smoke it! And more so, live UP to that highest ethic in every way possible.
CODA re The Debate and Backstory:
I didnt get to watch the debate, but just tuned in radio for a minute in driveway. God! there seemed a lot of whining tones of voices on all sides. Amazing
One of my family members was in an accident earlier. Literally a truck hit the family car. Ambulance, ER, xrays, brace, medicines, and no health insurance. Turned down time after time over the last years.
I wish I had been at the debate and the one to ask What the hell is going on –WILL THERE OR WONT THERE BE healthcare for ALL, like how about RIGHT NOW??!! Down in the dirt where I see it, we cannot get healthcare… and the entire family is scrambling to add up ways to help. We’ll figure it out but from ‘so far down looks like ‘up’ to many of us’… and I overheard MANY in the ER in similar circumstances. Too many. Too, too many.
At the ER, all the TVs in waiting area and in rooms (some of which have just curtains for walls)…none were turned to the political hash. None. There were children brought into ER injured, and old people, and a man cut his arm on a saw, and several heart attacks, and one shotgun.
I am reminded that many many live face down, just trying to make it, and a debate between two men in ultra shiny shoes on a stage far away from the real suffering, just doesnt cut it, no matter what they say or dont say.
That’s the report from the riverbank tonight… and for certain, there is nonetheless a glimmer of gold in the dark in those in the Armed Services, women and men, who on the field of engagement, risk themselves further because they never hesitate EVER to fulfill their pledge: to give all they’ve got to not leave anyone, harmed, injured or deceased, behind…
Would that I, that we, that all of us could pledge and follow through, likewise. Especially those who have the power to make a huge difference for the vulnerable, many who have been brought to the battlefield of health and life without adequate armor or the wherewithall granted to those living far more privileged.
