Remembering Nooga Strong

  • Thursday, June 23, 2016

About a year ago, following the shootings that left five service men dead here in Chattanooga, I was wandering around my friend’s restaurant helping out.  I had spent the morning at one of the servicemen’s funeral, volunteering with United Way, handing out water and PowerAde that had been donated from local beverage and ice companies.  My mind was still on the events, the crowd comradery and general love of my community.  No one was talking gang violence.  We had, as a collective, had enough killing. 

A sailor, in his dress uniform walked into the restaurant, and looked at our menu.  He then flagged a friend/significant other/family member, I’ll never know, to come inside.  She had been standing in the heat waiting outside of the air conditioned restaurant.  They both stood to the side, looking over our selections of available dinners.  I could see they were contemplating cost, when they ordered one dinner, the cheapest on the menu and asked for an extra plate. 

Now while the normal dinner servings are ample enough for a family of four to share, my mouth ran away from my brain, as it usually does, “you sure that’s all you want?  You guys know it’s free to you today, your money is no good here”.  I must have said this way too loud, because our crowded restaurant grew still, listening.  The friend/significant other/family member looked at us and said, “We can have two dinners?”  I affirmed this and said they could have two of the most expensive meals, on me. 

Mere micro seconds passed and they nodded happily, ordered and as I went away to give their orders to the kitchen, I noticed several people smiling.  When I came back with complimentary beers in frozen mugs, I had to fight through several kids and mothers, fathers and grandparents, all thanking the sailor for his service.  More beers were ordered, pictures taken, tears shiny on many cheeks. 

Turns out, the funeral I had been to that morning was for his bunkmate, his best friend.  He was the first pall bearer, and fired a gun solo for his buddy.  He was a local kid, who to avoid crime and gangs, joined the military straight out of high school. He neither had support from his family, or friends for his decision to join.   

After seeing the support from strangers and realizing his big picture of a bigger family, this sailor walked out the door full, smiling and with many pats on the back, and carrying two big bags of leftovers, his partner stood erect and proud of her sailor. 

Nooga Strong

Cheri Haynes
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