by Jack Lee
Just saw this movie Taking Chance and the story won’t let you escape uninvolved. Few movies get a rise out me, but this one did. Maybe because I have helped send a lot of soldiers to Iraq and Afghanistan, I don’t know, but whatever it was it had an impact. The movie is probably on ShowTime now or you can rent the video if you are prepared for an emotional, heart wrenching true story.
Summary: This is a story of a young Marine, unfortunately it’s told posthumously and its also about the emotional experiences of his escort in his final journey home. There were many poignant moments, but the one that comes to mind now was this scene when the Marine Col. (played by Kevin Bacon) was following behind the Hearst, making this long trip from airport to his home. As they were nearing their destination a sort of accidental caravan formed up. First, it was a rough looking old trucker who started to pass the Hearst and the escort car and then he noticed the flag draped coffin and the marine in the trailing vehicle. He removed his hat and turned on his headlights and continued to pass. Then another vehicle noticed the Hearst, and this one had some kids in the back and they also turned on their lights, in the following scene the camera pans back and we see about 20 vehicles snaking their way through the hills, including the truck, and they all had their lights on and they were all escorting the Hearst just like a funneral procession for a friend or family member.
The picture of this, with their lights on, the old people, the young people, kids, a trucker and all travelling as one convoy across the great wide open spaces of Wyoming just to honor the fallen Marine, it was something. That impromptu caravan of caring Americans, all willing to take time from their own journies to share the unstated privilage of escorting this young Marine home, well, the rest of the movie didn’t get any easier on the heart. If you have an ounce of patriotism or compassion, you will need kleenex for this one.