What it may take

I post this in hopes you will read it with a heart opened to the
realities of what it may take to be a Metis. It is the same thing
that it takes to be any person in the face of resistance. Either
you can become part of the problem or part of the solution. I would
rather think you would choose the solution side of being.

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Captain Kangaroo turned 76 recently, which is odd, because he's
never looked a day under 76. (DOB: 6/27/27 Passed away 1/23/04) It
reminded me of the following story.

Some people have been a bit offended that the actor, Lee Marvin, is
buried in a grave alongside 3 and 4 star Generals at Arlington
National Cemetery. His marker gives his name, rank (PVT.) and
service (USMC).
Nothing else. Here's a guy who was only a famous movie star who
served his time, why the heck does he rate burial with these guys?
Well, following is the amazing answer:

I always liked Lee Marvin, but did not know the extent of his Corps
experiences. In a time when many Hollywood stars served their
country in the armed forces often in rear-echelon posts where they
were carefully protected, only to be trotted out to perform for the
cameras in war bond promotions, Lee Marvin was a genuine hero. He won
the Navy Cross at Iwo Jima. There is only one higher award, the
Congressional Medal Of Honor. If that is a surprising comment on
the true character of the man, he credits his sergeant with an even
greater show of bravery.

Dialog from The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson: His guest was Lee
Marvin.

Johnny said, "Lee, I'll bet a lot of people are unaware that you
were a Marine in the initial landing at Iwo Jima ... and that during
the course of that action you earned the Navy Cross and were
severely wounded." "yeah yeah", I got the Navy Cross for securing a
hot spot about halfway up Suribachi...bad thing about getting shot
up on a
mountain is guys gettin' shot hauling you down. But, Johnny, at Iwo
I served under the bravest man I ever knew... We both got the cross
the same day, but what he did for his Cross made mine look cheap in
comparison. The dumb bastard actually stood up on Red beach and
directed his troops to move forward and get the hell off the beach.
Bullets flying by and mortar rounds landing everywhere and he stood
there as the main target of gun fire so that he could get his men to
safety. He did this on more than one occasion because his men's
safety was more important than his own life. That Sergeant and I
have been lifelong friends. When they brought me off Suribachi we
passed the Sergeant and he lit a smoke and passed it to me, lying on
my belly on the litter and said, where'd they get you Lee?'

"Well Bob ... if you make it home before me, tell Mom to sell the
outhouse!" Johnny, I'm not lying...Sergeant Keeshan was the bravest
man I ever knew.....The Sergeant's name is Bob Keeshan... You and
the world know him as Captain Kangaroo."

On another note, there was this wimpy little man (who just passed
away) on PBS, gentle and quiet. Mr. Rogers is another of those you
would least suspect of being anything but what he now portrays to
our youth. But Mr. Rogers was a U.S. Navy Seal, combat proven in
Vietnam with over twenty-five confirmed kills to his name. He wore a
long sleeve sweater on his show to cover the many tattoos on his
forearm and biceps. He was a master in small arms and hand-to-hand
combat, able to disarm or kill in a heartbeat. After the war Mr.
Rogers became an ordained Presbyterian minister and therefore a
pacifist. Vowing to never harm another human and also dedicating the
rest of his life to trying to help lead children on the right path
in life. He hid the tattoos and his past life away and won our
hearts with his quiet wit and charm.

America's real heroes don't flaunt what they did, they quietly go
about their day to day lives, doing what they do best. They earned
our respect and the freedoms that we all enjoy.