Song: The old Man
From: White Christmas
Start song at (1)
Thank you to all of the Veterans out there! Your Courage, Bravery, Sacrifice, and Strengths are inspiring and fill so many with hope! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
"What do the different metals mean?" Sam asked next. "The ones on the uniforms?"
"There are lots of them." Uncle Jeff said. "There's the ones that shows which branch you belong too, your rank, your station. Then there are the ones that represent something you did or something that happened to you."
Jack got an idea and went to Jamie's room. Jamie had recently gotten a rock tumbler and had been experimenting to see what different kinds of rocks looked like after they went through the machine. As such he had a small stockpile of rocks in both polished and unpolished states. "Jamie, can I use some of these?"
Seeing that Jack had brought down a handful of rocks the boy gave his friend confused look but agreed. Jack set to work. He looked at each rock in particular, when he found one he wanted he started tracing his finger along it. Everyone watched him as he continued to draw his finger in different lines and patterns until he held the in rock up to his eye and gave a nod. Then he wrapped the rock on the coffee table edge like one might do when cracking an egg. The rock broke and bits of it fell away from Jack's hand. What was left was a small replica of an army Distinguished Service Cross metal. A little bronze colored cross with an eagle at full wing spread in the middle. The bird's body was encompassed in a circle that resembled a wreath and its claws held a banner.
"How did you…?!" Dimitri asked astonished.
"And in such detail?!" Great grandpa exclaimed.
Jack calmly scooped up the rock dust and shavings. "I've been learning how to sculpt with rock. I've always been good with ice but it doesn't last long outside Arctic temperatures and there the snow and freezing rain misshapen the sculptures as they are added to by the elements. It's taken me years, but I am starting to get how to send my ice into rocks so they shave and cut, chip and chisel, just how and where I want. Unfortunately I can't do this with anything larger than my palm. Bigger stone and even gemstones can be carved like this but it takes a lot of time and precise detailed attention. I hope to one day be able to sculpt bigger pieces with just as much detail."
The replica was passed around while Jack created a few more. He sculpted an Air Force Combat Readiness metal replica, a bronze colored circle with two overlapping triangles, one facing with its point up and the other with a point turned down.
A Naval Reserve Meritorious Service medal replica. A bronze colored circle with an anchor in the middle, wrapped in a ribbon and writing around the circles circumference.
He also used gray and green rocks to show some of the rink symbols that showed if you were a private, Capt., Lieut., and so on.
"I've seen that one before." Candace said as she pointed to a square replica of a patch with four stars on top all in a straight line.
"That's the rank of a general." Jack explained as he cleaned up.
"Dad? Are you a general!?" Candace looked at her father.
"Ha, ha! Yes Candace, I was." Her father answered.
Jack looked up, and then he got a big smile on his face. "In that case!" Jack stood at attention, like he'd seen so many soldiers do, and saluted Candace's father. Moving his feet in time Jack started to sing in a deep voice a song of honor to the general. (1) "We'll follow the old man whatever he wants to go, long as he wants to go, opposite to the foe."
Jack's song brought a smile to the retired general and it wasn't long before the words of honor were coming from every soldier, spouse, parents, and kid, all standing at attention. "We love him. Especially when he keeps us on the ball." Marching in place, Jack nudged the general into the lead, and a small parade started around the living room. Being at the head of this 'regiment' brought back old, happy memories. As the song went into a second round he turned to look at his family, Saluting and singing to him.
"With the grandest son of a soldier of them all!" The end was encompassed by a loud round of applause and cheering. Jack came forward, stood at attention and saluted the general, "Thank you for your service sir!"
"At ease, soldier." Candace's father said. When Jack relaxed the general saluted him and said "Thank you for your service!" Still in saluted he turned to the rest of the family "and to all of you the same!"