ok. this makes me want to get up and do something!

https://www.facebook.com/Upworthy/videos/1401403739900480/

*editied* rats. the link shows ALL of them. I mean the one in the gym with the vet.

Last year as I was griping to myself about sitting in traffic - a Ride 2 Recovery Bike Ride drove past. 100's of disabled vets riding adapted bicycles. It was overwhelming to watch and I sat there and cried. Here I was bitching about the inconvenience of traffic.

I know just what you're talking about. I was on the NJ Parkway when all traffic was stopped----completely stopped. I was fuming because I was hot, late and eager to get to the pier to go fishing.

Last year as I was griping to myself about sitting in traffic - a Ride 2 Recovery Bike Ride drove past. 100's of disabled vets riding adapted bicycles. It was overwhelming to watch and I sat there and cried. Here I was bitching about the inconvenience of traffic.

THEN: The ground shoot and the sky roared.

"The Rolling Thunder" Came through. There were HUNDREDS of motorcycles traveling down the Parkway as they do every year in support of our troops--past and present. Many of them on adapted bikes for amputee riders. Just the sight and sound of them sent shivers up my spine and tears to my eyes. The sight brought back a very potent memory for me...

I remember when I picked up my brother at Newark Airport when he came back from his third tour in Viet Nam. He was in a wheelchair because he had both of his legs broken. He wanted to surprise our mother with his homecoming. That is why I (at 16yr and not supposed to be driving out of NY state) pick him up.

Anyway, as I wheeled him through the airport, the Viet Nam protestors SPIT on him and called him, "baby killer" and other foul obscenities. I stopped to "address" these insults, but my brother stopped me by reaching out and grabbing my arm. When I looked at him I noticed tears in his eyes that matched my own.

What did he say?

"I want to go home, Sis. Please, just take me home".

We never told our mother what happened that day.