Remember the day?

You know you can be talking to someone, about anything in the world. That anything in the world can trigger a memory, from somewhere deep inside, or it can bring back laughter from out of no where. Sometimes, when someone recalls a date, they know and remember exactly what they were doing at that time, in the day or week or month or year. For instance, when people say, where were you when September 11th happened? Everyone can remember what they were doing at that perticual time.









Tragically, we also happen to remember the terrible days. For me, well, I've had a few terrible days over the years. But today, one particular day, sticks out in my mind, cause it happened only one year ago.









I am gonna go back just a little further though. The setting was in the Republic of Korea. Plans were taking place for a joyous weekend. That day, was October 4th, 2007, and it was a Friday. It was to be the last day before a four day weekend, and a vacation was in the works. Plans to travel and see South Korea, the way most do not get to see any country when they visit, were supposed to happen. It was all to culminate with a fine barbecue, to celebrate our country, as soldiers, as men, and most of all, as friends. Like I said, October 4th, as it was still October 3rd in the states.









It was at approxamately, 0845 in the morning that Friday, when my heart got crushed. As I was called into my First Sergeant's office, he kinda yelled at me a little bit, giving me the impression that I was in trouble. He told me to close the door to his office, which was hardly ever closed. In fact the only time it was closed, was when someone was in trouble. I thought to myself, now what did I do? Nothing had came to mind, until I saw the note. The note was distinct in every way. In the military, you know this note. In fact it wasn't the first time, that I had received such a note. The note that I am talking about is a RCM, which in the military, we have a lot of acronyms. But no matter where you go in the military, they are all pretty much the same, and you know what one looks like, because they are labeled Red Cross Message.









After seeing the note, I could not make out the scribbling that had taken place on it, but my First Sergeant told me to take a seat. I declined it because I wanted to know what the message was about. When you get a Red Cross Message, there is never any good news that follows. The first words out of his mouth were, do you have a brother named Eddie Steele? As my heart sunk, thinking of confusion, certain expletives, and short sorrow, my only reply was, "What happened to my brother?" As my First Sergeant explained, that nothing happened to my brother, I felt a temporary moment of relief, until he had told me that "you are to call your brother, because your step father, Med Polman, has passed away from a sudden heart attack"









At that moment, my knees buckled, I dropped paperwork that I was working on, and hit the floor. After that, I can't recall what happened, but when I came back, I remember it being my platoon leadership around me, with my roommate, so they could escort me to get my leave, and airline tickets arranged for me.









That was the leave that I did not want to take. Those were the moments, with my family, that I did not want to share. A life filled with so many memories of mud pies, softball games, lectures, car shows, gold trips, and driving cross country, had been taken from us so fiercly, and quickly.









As my brother wrote, " He was a father, no matter the blood..." those words could not bring any more true meaning to a man such as him, because to him, we were blood. It didn't matter what we did, in any situation, he was there, no matter what, no questions asked. He would drop everything, on the drop of a hat, to come help his step son move, because he was getting deployed, and he needed help. I'm not going to say that, it's because he wanted to drive his new truck over a thousand miles, I'll just leave it as him wanting to help. The love and support that he gave, was endless. And it never stopped, even if a bad decision was made. It didn't stop even if his step son spent almost 3 thousand dollars on a trip to las vegas. His only question asked was, "did you have a good time?" No matter what, his love, support, generosity and so many other things were there.









That is what made one year ago today, probably the hardest day of my life. I knew my Mother was his princess, his queen, and his best friend. I knew this was all true because, well, that's how he treated her. That day was so hard, because without knowing what was in store for me, I had to present to my Mother, the flag for Med's service to his country.









When I was presented the flag, after rendering a short hand salute, I took the flag and asked myself, Was I ready for this? Could I actually do an about face, bow to one knee, and present my mother the flag thats a representation of Med's life? How can I do it when I am her son, and he was her husband. I took a deep breath, exhaled, and did an about face, for what I will remember forever.









As I saw a church filled with so many people that knew Med in many, many ways, I began to take a knee. While looking at my Mother, her eyes were not focused on me. When I spoke her eyes closed so tightly, trying to not shead a tear. With all eyes inside that church, focused on me, and what I was doing, I said these words, as softly, and gently as possible:









"Mom, on behalf of the President of the United States, and on behalf of the citizens of a grateful nation. I present this flag to you in appreciation of Med's loyalty, duty, and service to a country we so truely honor."









As I stuck the flag out to my Mother, she took it. I stood up, and rendered another short hand salute. Feeling that I could not contain myself, I stepped off, and walked abruptly to rear of the church. After exiting the doors, I was confronted by two people, whom I have never seen before in my life. And I was being comforted by these people, because as I broke down, they told me that was probably the most noble thing they had ever seen anyone do for a man.









After wiping away a few tears, I simply told them that he would have done the same for me, no questions asked, and that I just wanted him to be proud of me.

I remember that day too. It was March 30th 2003. This photo was taken on the corner of Platte BLVD and Chelton AVE in Colorado Springs, right after breakfast. It was the day Med and my Mom were leaving back to California, with my truck, because I was getting deployed. Like I told you before Med, you have taught me so many, many wonderful things, and you have taught me that there is good in every situation. Well the only good thing about goodbye is, that, you have have to say goodbye, before you can ever say hello again. I sure do miss you, and so does everyone else. Good ride cowboy, we love you......