Not even a Crystal Ball could have prepared us for the emotions we experienced today.

First there were the two women, mother and daughter, with whom we shared the bench in Five Points Park who told us there would be a special presentation by the SHS Band at the Park. Their niece/granddaughter who would be Color Guard and the nephew/grandson leading the drums told them someone had written a letter. When we told them we were the letter writers, they honored us by introducing us to other members of their family, brothers /sons who also made us feel special.

Then the Parade was passing in front of us. Suddenly, the SHS Band stopped in its tracks, and played the Marine Hymn more beautifully than we had ever heard it before. What we saw were High School musicians, the same age as Mel when he left one month before High School graduation to join the Marines. It was WWII and within months Mel was in the Pacific, Saipan, Iwo Jima and Okinawa, and came home safely after VJ Day. One of your fellow students standing with us has enlisted in the Marines and will start his training in February. How many of you will be serving in the military in the near future? WWII was supposed to end all wars. It didn't. Now you are preparing to risk your lives for the rest of us. This thought made us sad. However, the sound of the Marine Hymn brought back the fondest memories of the beginning of our life together.

"Thank You" falls short of saying how much we appreciate what you did for us.

Beverly and Mel Shapiro