In this fast paced world we live in, too many of us "look to the future," or "keep our eye on the ball," or try and "get the edge on the other guy," and we never seem to stop and smell the roses. We are receiving information at lighting-speed, processing it in a nanosecond, and figuring out ways to do it even faster.

I honestly don't know how the human race got along without a personal computer or a cell phone for all these years. Those items were invented to help us save time, but it seems they have consumed us and most of our free time is spent on cell phones or computers!

I am 100% guilty.

It seems that the more time our new gadgets save me, the more I take on. However, I do keep up with family birthdays, Holidays and graduations (I have 49 nephews and nieces, 10 brothers and sisters and 4 daughters,) so that's a magical feat in itself.

I believe because we are always looking ahead, we tend to lose the lessons of the past. Again, ... I am 1000% guilty. Even MTV rarely shows an entire video these days, ... a quick 30 or 40-seconds is seen, and quickly on to the next one. Our attention span is shrinking. Songs are getting shorter. Rock Stars who are at the top of the charts one day, quickly fade out and make room for the next fad.  Video killed the radio star and now technology and sound bites are killing the video star!

Sometimes we look so far into our future, that we forget some very important things that should never be forgotten. My point is ...

I received an email from Keith Maupin, the father of American POW,MIA, SSG Matt Maupin, yesterday. Keith sent me his suggestions to yesterdays blog on how we can lower oil prices. But I couldn't help but think, "Oh my God, ... I forgot about this poor man's plight and how he must feel." (I'll bet most of you didn't even know America has a POW/MIA soldier)

I look at Matt's photo, along with my cousin Ryan and the photo of Phil Franks everyday, ... but I haven't given the Maupin family the attention they deserve.

My mind went back to the conversation I had with this great American last summer. Keith, who does not, and will not blame anyone for his son's capture by al Qaeda, except for al Qaeda, asked me if he could return to Iraq with our band so he could remind the troops to keep searching for his son. That is completely out of my hands. Then he asked that if he couldn't go, would I pass out photos of his son. We talked about the war and about his son and I could sense the pain and love for his son in his voice and I also sensed what a kick-ass American Keith really is. I promised Keith that I would everything I could to help with the release of his son and to remind America that we still have a POW in this war in Iraq!

A few days after our conversation, Keith sent me photo's, car magnets and prayer cards with Matt's photo on them. He also sent a huge poster of his son that will be on display at all of my 101st Rock Division shows this year.

Just google "Matt Maupin" on your computer and all the stories about his capture the 9th of April, 2004, will pop up. Matt may have very well been in one of our audiences when we performed in Iraq throughout the month of February of 2004.

My heart always goes to different place whenever I see or read anything about Matt Maupin because of the unique situation. Now I have a different connection to this story. I have a personal relationship with Matt's father. I like this man and I deeply feel for him, without really knowing what it is like to have a son volunteer to support his country, be captured and show up as a POW on national news, ... and then just fade away, out of the spot light, far from the headlines, with more important stories making the news from Anna Nicole Smith, to Global Warming.

After reading Matt Maupin's reply to my blog yesterday, Ryan Jazak emailed me and asked about Keith. Ryan told me he prays for Keith and Matt every night. That fact touched me deeply. I love young Ryan and it's a side of him I never knew before. Ryan and I emailed each other back-and-forth for about 30 minutes and discussed what it must be like to have a son or daughter as a prisoner of war or missing in action.

I stopped and smelled the roses last night. I took a giant step back. I picked up the package Keith sent me and went through every item in it. I was trying to imagine him packing it to send to me, just because maybe, ... just maybe ... this rock and roll guy in Chicago has a connection or knew anyone who might help to get his son back home. Maybe Keith had tears running down his face as he looked at every photo of his boy as he placed them in the box. Maybe he had hope in his heart that through some miracle, someone who got one of the items in this box might be able to help him get his boy safely back to Ohio.

I said my prayers for Matt last night, and prayed for his released. Ryan even dreamed that his brother Eric Jazak, USMC, currently serving in Iraq, will find Keith and bring him home; ... that would be unbelievable and is actually possible.

So once again, ... I am asking everyone who is reading this entry to write to Keith Maupin and send him a hug and let him know we appreciate him and his wife for giving America a gift; their son Matt. Folks, please let Keith know we all care about him and his wonderful family. Let him know we are praying for Matt's release and safe return home.

To Keith Maupin; We are all behind you and thank you for staying behind our troops. Thank you for your brave warrior Matt, and we pray for his quick and save return home. God bless you.

To Ryan Jazak; Thanks my young brother for making me stop and look back and remember that one of my friends is in constant anguish and pain. Thanks for reminding me to do the only thing I really can do, ... and that is to remind as many people as I can, to reach out to this man and his family and let them know we have not forgotten their boy.

Please write to Keith Maupin at K_Maupin@yahoo.com

Never forget our POW-MIA SSG Matt Maupin!

 

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