Last Ounce of Courage

There is a thing right here.

Sit up. Turn around.

Whoo!

She's now 83 years old and still kicking.

Aw!

Only because he's...

Only because he's my best friend.

That's the only reason. Yeah, whatever.

We just hang out with him 'cause we pity him.

Terrible!

Well, right now I'm happy,

but I'm sure that will change very shortly, you know.

Why? Because you kind of drive me nuts.

Hey.

How do I look?

I'm a little bit nervous.

Um, but, Kari, I love you,

and this is the day I've been waiting for all my life.

You know, I always saw myself as a patriot.

I don't remember anyone telling me

that freedom had to be fought for and defended.

I loved my country, and I loved being free,

but the day I saw my son packing

to leave our country to fight in another,

I understood what my father must have felt

when I left for war.

There's no greater love in the world

than a man laying down his life for someone else.

But a man thinks different

when it's his boy going into harm's way.

Thomas was 20.

He had his whole life ahead of him.

He had a young wife, great friends, and a future.

I'm so proud of you.

If anything happens to me over there,

take care of 'em?

You just come back.

Wait!

We made it back to base safe and sound.

Every day I pray that God will see me through

so I can get back to you, Kari.

The doctor says the next few weeks will fly by

before the baby is born.

Easy for him to say.

I love you, Thomas.

I miss you so much.

I long to feel you next to me.

Today I remembered the smell of your hair

the day I left.

I love you.

God's been watching over me.

181 days and I'll be home, Lord willing.

I love you, and I think of you every day.

[ Helicopter rotors whirring, gunfire ]

I haven't seen your mother

act like this since you were born.

Your son is going to be completely spoiled

by the time he meets you.

His grandma has his whole life planned out.

By the way, that includes college.

The days passed

just like all the other days of every year

until that morning.

I'll never forget the sound of that doorbell.

No!

No.

No!

No!

Thomas Revere was a brave soldier

on the field of battle.

Sacrificing his life, he was awarded the bronze star.

Scripture says do not let your hearts be troubled.

And it goes on to say trust in God.

For if it were not so, I would have told you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you,

I will come back and take you to be with me,

that where you are we may be, also.

These are the words.

Please accept this flag on behalf of a grateful nation

as a token of appreciation

for the honorable and faithful service

rendered by your loved one.

Port, arms!

Aim!

Fire!

Fire!

Fire!

You know I love you.

I love you, too.

Thank you...

for everything that you've done.

You're family. You'll always be family.

Would you please give this to Bob for me?

Thank you.

I wanted the world to stop

and understand the pain that I was in,

to know how I was suffering.

I felt in some ways that my life was over.

Kari and my grandson left when I needed them the most.

They were the only part of Thomas I still had left.

Without my son...

nothing else really mattered.

[ "Get On and Ride" by Bo Bice plays ]

Something I can do for you gentlemen?

Boy, I'll bet that hurt, didn't it?

Okay.

Come with me. Let's fix it up.

It was just a flesh wound,

but I have to know what happened.

I cannot be involved in something illegal, guys.

It wasn't a crime, Mayor.

He accidentally shot himself.

You're good to go.

It's okay.

Any time, guys. All right.

Bob!

Hi! Look at you!

Hi!

Oh, wow! Oh, wow!

Chris! Oh, my! Look at you!

You're all grown up!

You look just like your dad.

He looks like his dad.

That's not some L.A. gang handshake, is it?

Bob. Huh?

Why don't you get the bags and show Chris his room?

Okay.

So, after you go upstairs, we'll have Thanksgiving dinner.

Oh!

I hope you're hungry. We're starving.

And we have not had a real Thanksgiving for years.

Do you remember that old missions church

that was down-town? Mm-hmm.

The one with the "Jesus Saves" cross on the side?

Well, we bought that building,

and we put the community mission there.

The cross isn't there any more.

Can you imagine?

It offended somebody.

Hey, look, I know it's a holiday weekend,

but I figured you'd want to know.

The Feds approved the funds. You're kidding me.

We'll get that addition for the veterans' home.

Outstanding.

All right, man. Bye.

It had been 14 years

since we looked into Thomas' trunk.

Even to see my own grandson open it was painful.

Can I watch these?

You can watch those.

Uh...

thank you.

Oh, that's the Gideon Bible

that he took everywhere.

I never saw this one.

They're so cute.

Oh, see, Thomas is the shepherd,

and J.J. as Mary.

Who's J.J.?

Your dad's older sister.

Actually she left before you were born.

We don't see her very often.

Why?

She didn't see eye to eye

about things that Bob and I felt were very important.

So, why don't people do Christmas like that any more,

with the shepherds and everything?