The Viral Video Of The U.S. Navy Honoring WWII Vet Is The Greatest Thing You’ll See Today

Doctor Franzia9 years ago

In a country where politics can become contentious and schools are sending home waivers to exclude students from reciting the pledge of allegiance, it’s sometimes all too easy to forget the sacrifices of the brave men and women that truly risked and gave everything for this country in our darkest hours.

Ninety-year-old WWII veteran Ernest Thompson is just one of those people. He served on the USS Missouri, lived through Pearl Harbor, and survived all the way to witness the Japanese surrender with his own eyes.

Recently, Thompson’s health has been failing and he had to stop his regular visits to the USS Missouri’s sister ship, the USS Iowa.

But the US Navy wasn’t about to let Thompson pass quietly into the night.

From KTLA5:

With the help of volunteer coordinators, the chief selects from the Fleet Anti-Submarine Warfare Training Center visited Thompson’s home and sang the Navy’s march song, “Anchors Aweigh” in the middle of his residential street.

While the singing went on, Thompson stood and saluted, “inspiring those around him,” the release stated.

Keep your eyes on Thompson standing in the video. You can see the muscles in his throat quivering as he salutes. The raw passion and respect, as well as the depth of this man’s experience, are enough to bring me almost to tears.

You can watch the video here:

God bless the USA, and God bless heroes like Ernest Thompson. Let their service and sacrifice never be forgotten..

[via KTLA5]