Not Forgotten

By Chief Master Sgt. Marco Aldaz
67th OSS
Kelly Air Force Base, Texas

It was Feb. 28, 1991, when former President Bush announced the end to Desert Storm, with the words “Kuwait has been liberated.”

The greatest assembly of troops from nations around the globe had achieved victory. In the months that followed, U.S. military personnel came home to celebrations not seen since the end of WWII. Yellow ribbons, parades and cheers greeted our military heroes.

But what now, so many years later? Some would say that such recognition is fleeting and that our nation soon forgets the sacrifice that so many made. Some would argue that our military personnel today in Bosnia, Korea and Saudi Arabia are largely unappreciated. I would tell you different.

I was one who spent many months in Saudi Arabia during Desert Shield and Desert Storm, away from family and friends. The day before we returned home, my friends and I were given Allied Victory posters to commemorate our success. We penned notes of remembrance on each other’s posters and headed home. Soon after I returned, I had that poster framed and have proudly displayed it in my office ever since.

Unfortunately, during a building move a year ago, it was damaged by a co-worker moving furniture. The co-worker had it repaired, only to have it fall and break again during one of my TDYs last fall. This time, I took it to a large hobby shop near Kelly AFB. The young man who looked at it advised me it would be $22 for repairs and that it wouldn’t be ready until after the holidays.

I returned to pick up my treasured picture, only this time there was a very elderly Hispanic gentleman working the framing counter. I was on my lunch hour, in uniform. I showed him my receipt and then his faced seemed to brighten a little. “I think I remember this one,” he said as he headed to the back room. As I was looking around, I heard him yell from the back, “Yes, I remember this one. It’s the Desert Storm picture.” I answered back, “Yes sir, that’s the one.”

He walked back to the counter, his eyes looking directly into mine. “There’ll be no charge for this,” and handed it to me.

Puzzled and completely caught off guard, I asked, “Wh-what do you mean, no charge?” After a pause he asked, “That’s you right? You served in Desert Storm?” “Well, yes,” I answered. Then, in a very kind voice he said, “M’ijo (my son), I’m not going to charge you for this picture.” With that he turned away and returned to the back room, leaving me standing there with my picture.

Choked with emotion, I dazedly walked towards the front of the store. Seeing the customer-filled checkout counter ahead, I decided I’d better go through the line and show my ticket. When it was my turn, I showed my ticket and asked how much I owed. The young woman looked at the ticket and responded, “Someone has already called from the back. There’ll be no charge.”

I walked out of the store that day with my head much higher than when I went in, knowing that we are not forgotten. Today’s military asks much of its men and women. Ops tempo is at its highest level ever and retention rates are suffering. But know this, there’s at least one man in San Antonio who salutes you and what you do to defend this nation.