The
lessons that I learned from this movie are that those who join our military
make the ultimate sacrifice, and to have a greater appreciation of the
sacrifices made in war. It's a war movie with virtually no war action. It's a
movie in which one main character is dead and the other main character hardly
speaks. It’s a movie by which you WILL be moved.
This
movie was about a volunteer military escort officer taking the body of a 19 year
old Marine named Chance Phelps back to his hometown in Dubois, Wyoming. Lt.
Colonel Michael Strobl, a veteran himself of service in “Desert Storm” is anxious
to get away from an office cubicle, he is surprised when his superiors approve
and he receives an assignment to accompany the remains of a Marine Corps PFC
named Chance Phelps to his home in rural Wyoming. It was unusual for so senior
an officer to fill such a slot.
This
movie opened my eyes to the sacrifices that our troops make. When soldiers join
our military, they not only sign themselves up, but their families and friends
too. In this film we met Chance Phelps family and friends. We saw the impact
that he had on all of their lives. He brought joy to everyone he knew, and when
he passed away, it affected all of those people.
After
seeing this film I believe everyone would have a greater appreciation for our
military. In the movie Strobl
marveled at the positive response of airline passengers and others when they
learned he was on escort duty. Countless
people along the journey spontaneously poured themselves out in love and
respect to the memory and the family and loved ones of the fallen soldiers. He
receives a seat upgrade to first class, bestowed by an airline ticket agent,
and a small silver crucifix the lady on the plane hands him. The cargo handlers
at the airport stood at attention and saluted the coffin every time it was
presented to show their respects. Dozens of cars lined up behind them and put
their lights on to honor him as the body was being transported. It amazed
Colonel Strobl that so many people thanked him HIM for his service, when he was
nothing more than the caretaker of the remains of a brave Marine who had given
the last full measure of devotion for his country. What Strobl came to
understand, is that people felt the sacrifice of Phelps demanded that his
remains be given the highest respect. Although, Phelps was dead, and it was not
possible to thank him, it was possible to thank the man who assured Phelps was
transported and buried a fallen warrior and hero.
This film does an excellent job portraying an
accurate image of military protocol. I feel that it gives the audience a better
visual understanding. For example, the extraordinary grace and tender devotion
of the military detail at Dover tasked with preparing the bodies of the dead.
It traces each step without sentiment, the soldiers loading ice into coffins,
and coffins into planes, and the care shown to follow every one of the
guidelines that are there to govern the process.
This movie
is truly a lesson of honor. Taking
Chance is a profoundly emotional look at the military rituals taken to honor those
dead by war. The audience can gain so much by watching this film. This film has
the power to broaden the horizons of respect and appreciation for every viewer including
myself.
"I
didn't know Chance Phelps before he died," Strobl says when his own
mission is over. "But today, I miss him." So will you after watching
this film.
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