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A tribute to Staff Sgt. John Beale

By Tammy Lankford,

Real Estate Broker/Owner with Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 GREC# 169695

June 21, 2009 05:02 AM

Today John Beale's children won't get to see their father. His final homecoming was June 11, 2009. I'd like to take just 12 and half minutes of your time to pay tribute to a Georgia soldier who gave his life fighting for what he believed in. And I WARN you, get your box of tissues as you will need them. I'm proud to be an American and proud to be from Georgia where this country boy got a welcome home that every single soldier returning to this country should get.

YOU NEED TO WATCH THIS.

When I see this it makes me very sad to think of all the American soldiers who returned from Vietnam and were not welcomed home.

Happy Father's Day to all the dad's out there! God Bless.

Re-Blog

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Gene Riemenschneider

Home Point Real Estate - Brentwood, CA

Turning Houses into Homes

Very touching. I am glad that the people in Georgia understand. A lot in California do, but not enough.

Jun 21, 2009 05:33 AM

Tammy Lankford,

Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA

Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

Kenneth- Indeed and God Bless our troops

Cindy- My father, grandfather and my husband all served and all during war times so I know what you mean about it being personal.

JoAnna- I agree and thanks for stopping by.

Gene- I was amazed at the outpouring of love. America came together as a nation after 9/11/2001, and I thought it had just vanished, but I see that it has not.

Jun 21, 2009 05:46 AM

Andrea Swiedler

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties - New Milford, CT

Realtor, Southern Litchfield County CT

Tammy, how beautiful. You were right about the tissues.

Jun 21, 2009 06:02 AM

Fernando Herboso - Associate Broker MD, & VA

Maxus Realty Group of Samson Properties - Clarksburg, MD

301-246-0001 Serving Maryland, DC and Northern VA

great post for Father's Day. . thank you for sharing this with all of us. . .happy father's day everyone!

Jun 21, 2009 06:26 AM

Sharon Lee

Sharon Lee's Virtual Assistance - Jonesborough, TN

Retired and loving life

Hi Tammy-Definitely a heartbreaking event that happens every day for so many. A great tribute for a fallen soldier and a appropriate for Father's Day. Thank you for sharing this. <SMILE>

Jun 21, 2009 06:31 AM

Gary Coles (International Referrals)

Venture Realty International - Las Vegas, NV

Latin America Real Estate

Tammy,

In my recent decision to start blogging, I never imagined that I would re-blog a post from someone else. Then I read your post and watched the video.

The video is one that I wish every American could see. It is truly touching.

You should be proud of Georgia too. I went through jump school at Ft. Benning during the Vietnam era and I always felt we had the support of all the wonderful people that I met from Georgia.

Jun 21, 2009 07:10 AM

Jamie Dumaine-Russell

RE/MAX Alliance - Branford, CT

Tammy,

What a beautiful tribute to Staff Sgt. John Beale. It brought tears to me eyes listening to the songs in that video and watching the love and respect that the people of Georgia had in welcoming this fallen hero home,

With a son in the Army who has seen active combat four times a brother in the Army who was in Afghanistan last year and getting ready to go again in January this hits very close to home.

Thank you for sharing this on such a very special day. Glod Bless you and God Bless America!

Jun 21, 2009 07:12 AM

Tammy Lankford,

Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA

Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

Andrea- A friend who was among the crowd who lives in Henry County sent me this via email. I just bawled.

Fernando- thanks.

Sharon- I hope others have homecoming like this young man did. I'm sure his family is proud.

Gary- My husband also trained at Ft. Benning

Donna- My husband served in Desert Storm, but I can not imagine one of our children. It must be so hard. My prayers are with you and your family.

Jun 21, 2009 07:30 AM

Mary Douglas

United Country Ponderosa Realty, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado - Red Feather Lakes, CO

REALTOR, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado

Dear Tammy, Truly sad and very touching. Thank you for posting this, a very fitting welcome home for a soldier that gave all.

A few months ago, in Wellington, a nearby town, a soldier was going to war. The town and the school children stood outside as he drove by to wish him well and let him know they were behind him. I thought that was very cool.

Jun 21, 2009 12:51 PM

Bob Sloop, Consultant, Indianapolis, IN

RS Mortgage Consulting - Indianapolis, IN

Tammy- I cannot find the words to describe not only this video, but so many more just like it. We have lost so many men and women in this war. I spent nine years in the Marines, so long ago. I know what this Soldier went through to be a Staff Sergeant. He was the best of the best, you do not put on a rocker under you three stripes for nothing. This is a great loss for this family and our Country. I pray for our service men and women for safe returns. I want to thank you for sharing this with us, it is the best 12 minutes I or anyone can ever spend. We need to take time, and listen, and feel, and even hurt inside for those families who have lost a loved one.

Although this post does not meet all the guidelines of featuring a post, I still cannot "not feature" this post. It is the least we can do. God bless. Bob

Jun 21, 2009 01:30 PM

Mike Saunders

Retired - Athens, GA

Tammy - thank you for posting this wonderful tribute. I am very familiar with the Sgt. Beale story, but this really puts it in perspective. I brought tears to my eyes and a prayer to my lips and heart for his family and all of our men and women serving.

This post has just been featured in Thankful Thursdays!

Jun 21, 2009 11:28 PM

Alexander Harb

Knights Investing - Mesquite, TX

Dallas, Texas Real Estate Investing

I have featured many tributes to soliders....and I have no problem with Bob doing this as well.

"The soldier does not bear his weapons in vain...."

Wow!! a NEW group called ,"Thankful Thusdays"...KEWL...I am gonna hafta check it out!!

WOOHOO !!!!!

\O/

Jun 22, 2009 03:33 AM

Tammy Lankford,

Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA

Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

Mary- It makes me sad that not EVERY soldier returning home, living or having sacrificed his life, doesn't get this kind of welcome. I'm going to make it a priority to do my part to change that.

Bob- Have lost an Uncle in Vietnam, having had a grandfather and father and husband that served during 3 different wars I have such respect for our soldiers. Thank you for the feature. My hope is through it more people will see this video and more people will make an effort to do something for a veteran or their family and always remember them in our prayers.

Mike- I just wept when I saw it. And thanks for the feature, because as I said above my hope is LOTS of people will take the time to watch that video and realize that American soldiers are willing to pay the ultimate price for our freedom and show our service men and women the respect they deserve.

Alex- I like your quote and it's so true. Thankful Thursdays has not been a group that I've regularly posted to, but I read lots of them often. I'm grateful for them. It's worth checking out.

Jun 22, 2009 11:23 AM

Dinah Lee Griffey

Windermere Peninsula Properties - Allyn, WA

Managing Broker Windermere Peninsula Properties

Very moving Tammy. I teared up at just the words. I am in awe of all that htey give-Dinah Lee

Jun 24, 2009 07:22 AM

Tammy Lankford,

Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA

Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

Awe is a great word to describe it Dinah. My husband and I have 3 children, none of which would be allowed to serve due to various problems. (my daughter is blind in one eye, my husband oldest has medical problems and his youngest has MD). It will be the first generation in our family since the late 1700's not to have a member serve in our military. But I am so proud and grateful to all the men and women who are willing to risk the ultimate sacrifice and serve. In having an all volunteer military for so many years now, our country still has the strongest and bravest military ever.

Jun 24, 2009 07:39 AM

Kathleen Ann Pacheco-Corbett

(FIRST Exclusive Buyer's Office Providence-RI) - Providence, RI

Realtor, RI-MA, CEBA, Master, e-Pro, ABR, ABRM, GR

Tammy,

Be so proud of your Georgians, they truly understand being proud to be an American.
This video is so touching that I, too as Gary want everyone to see and hear this video,
so I have re-blogged

Thank you The songs along with the this soldier home-coming welcome,
traveling your Georgia roads.. I was emotionally filled to tears with the overwhelming turn
out of people, all ages, displaying proudly al size flags,the salutes along the way, the soldiers
lined up in appreciation, the billboard for Staff SGT BEALE, the ladders crossing the road
with the flag hanging.

Hearing the Proud to American and Taps at the end made me realize that freedom
doesn't come free, American soldiers put their lives on the line, they
sacrifice and do their duty no matter what . Let's remember to honor them always and pray for safe returns

Jun 26, 2009 08:23 AM

Tammy Lankford,

Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA

Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

Kathleen, first thanks for the reblog. I too want lots of people to see this. I wish it were on youtube, last time I checked it still was not. could be because of the length of the video. I was moved to tears. Taps always brings me to tears. It always takes me back to my Uncle Johhny's funeral.

Jun 26, 2009 01:06 PM

Judy Schneider

eXp Realty - Bellingham, WA

Tammy,

I am still crying! What a beautiful tribute to a wonderful man! I do wish they were all treated so wonderfully! I loved the fire trucks and their solute! The music was also chosen well! Thank You for sharing it!

God Bless them all!

Judy

Jul 13, 2009 01:30 AM

Randy Filbert

The Filbert Real Estate Group At Skyline Realty-Boise Idaho - Boise, ID

The Filbert Real Estate Team-Boise Idaho

nice tribute Tammy. Thanks for sharing with the AR community. We all need to spread this kind of message so that our soldires, sailors, marines, and airmen coming home do not forget how much they are appreciated.

Feb 03, 2010 07:12 AM

Tammy Lankford,

Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA

Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

Oh I cried my eyes out Judy.

Randall, having had military family from the Vietnam era, I totally agree.

Feb 03, 2010 08:06 AM