Heroic Toast

If you don’t recognize the photo below, well, where the heck were you last weekend?

To catch you up, this photo “went viral” on the interwebs after a nice young bar-mistress named Hannah posted the photo to her Facebook account.  According to that post, a young man came in, ordered the beer and then asked Hannah if he could leave the beer sitting there at the bar all day.  Hannah the bar-mistress, moved by this act, not only allowed it but then took a photo of the beer and the young man’s note and posted it to her Facebook page asking for “likes.”  People responded; to the tune of over 1 million “likes.”  What could possibly be better for a Memorial Day weekend?

Except…it didn’t actually happen on Memorial Day weekend.  It actually took place all the way back in March.  It just took Memorial Day to get people to really notice.  Nevertheless, a fine gesture by both the young man and Hannah the bar-mistress.  Not to mention the selfless sacrifice of LTJG Toner, who reportedly walked into enemy fire, unarmed, to confront a gunman who was shooting his fellow servicemen while they were involved in Physical Training, on post, in Afghanistan.

Bennigans, where the nice young Hannah the bar-mistress works, made a corporate decision to create a Facebook page entitled “Wall of Heroes” in which, during the month of May, other people could do the same thing to remember other servicemen.  Bennigans would donate $1 to a military oriented charity for every post made to their “Wall of Heroes.”  Doesn’t this all sound very American, very supportive, very “land of the free, home of the brave” –ish?  Yeah…darn right.  Let’s see how the internet denizens can eff that up, shall we?

Ahhh…doesn’t “anchorite” just make you all fuzzy inside?  Yes, what a completely made up story.  This guy wanted to serve his nation and her citizens.  He was killed.  His buddy left a beer in his honor at Bennigans.  Psssshhhh…whatever…

Let’s see if someone can be even more tasteless.

Wow, “getaclue,” thanks for keying people in to Islam’s view of alcohol and how it is tied to hateful murder.  I certainly hope “getaclue” isn’t going to make that same connection with other people who don’t drink alcohol…like a certain former President.  Wait, wait…I’m certain someone can take this heartwarming story and draw a political angle to it, right?

Oh, man.  You almost had us there, pal.  That is, until your sign off.  Nice try, but I don’t think any true Marine would misspell that.  Thanks for playing.

Thank you “raven” for bringing us back to the real story here.  Hard to stay focused on it, that’s for sure.  Anyone wanna take a jaded view of it?

You’re the man “Tony T”!!!  effin’ayy!  Don’t let those corporate bastards get away with this…donating – to – charity thing…

Okay…anyone wanna try their hand at saying something that takes us off on a completely different tangent?

Haha…nice!  What about something that completely misses the point of the story?

Wheeee!  You people are awesome!  Anyone wanna shoot holes in this somehow?

Hannah!  Way to stick up for yourself girl!  And with that quote from your mom, enough has been said.  Hannah, you started something very good and for that you should be proud.  For the rest of you…well, you know what I have to say:

Be Reasonable.