Taking Chance - Movie Review

I stopped by the local Blockbuster recently looking for movies to watch over the weekend. Given the cold and snow, I thought I should get several movies. One movie I chose without any idea what the movie was about was "Taking Chance" with Kevin Bacon. I was so surprised by this movie, and I would highly recommend this movie. It reminds one how wonderful this country is and how patriotic the majority of Americans are. The movie is about two people, Private First Class Chance R Phelps (19) and Lieutenant Colonel Michael "Mike" Strobl. We never really meet Chance, as he was killed in action on Good Friday in 2004. Strobl expressed an interest in performing "escort duty." We find out late in the movie that Strobl if feeling gulity that some of the men he served with in Desert Storm were serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom. At the time this takes place, Strobl has an administrative job with the Marine Corps Base Quantico in Quantico Virginia. Strobl is assigned to escort the remains of Chance Phelps to his final resting point in Wyoming. The story follows Strobl and Chance as they make their way from Dover Air Force Base to DuBois, WY. All along the way from the mortuary team at Dover who prepared Chance's body for the coffin (cleaning him, cleaning his personal effects, dressing him in full dress) to all the people Strobl encounters as he flies from Dover to Philadelphia, to Minneapolis and finally Billings, MT. The respect that Chance is shown along this journey is very moving. The gratitude shown by the Phelps family and the friends and aquaitances of Chance is very much a surprise to Strobl. He seems like he got more out of the experience than anyone. Strobl ends his story with the following "I left DuBois in the morning before sunrise for my long drive back to Billings. It had been my honor to take Chance to his final post. Now his is on the high ground overlooking his town. I miss him."

It is hard to think about the fact that there are soldiers out there every day carrying out this difficult duty to honor our fallen with honor, dignity and respect. The military doesn't get much respect these days, and that starts with "Our" President. I hope the escorts, the families and those still serving know that the average American holds them in the highest regard. This movie is worth watching.