Today I was given a wonderful honor. I received a call yesterday from a person asking if could transfer a 1/4 reel to reel tape for them. I was only told that is was a recording of a returning Vietnam Veteran who has passed recently and that he was trying to get it transferred and duplicated by the funeral. The funeral being in a few days. I told him of course and I would find time to do the transfer today. As it turned out he was caught in DC traffic and couldnt make out morning appointment. So we pushed it back. Around 5pm he arrived at the studio holding a reel of Scotch 190. It wasnt in perfect shape but it didnt need baking. As I set up the machine and loaded the tape I asked about the recording. Thats when my jaw dropped. See I didnt recognize his name until he mentioned his fathers. Michael Denton then proceeded to fill me in a bit. The recording was of his family watching television in 1973. He had gone into his room a was using his reel to reel machine while the rest of the family watched TV. They were watching the arrival of the military transports bringing home the first POWs. Unbeknownst to them their father Jeremiah Denton is on the plane and exists giving his short speech on the tarmac. At this point the tape has been rolling and he interrupts the conversation we were having to let me know the important part is coming up. The part hes here for. See they didnt know Jeremiah Denton was on the plane. And after many false alarms of their father returning over the years they didnt expect anything. When the newscasters called his name there was a moment of silent shock. You could feel it. Then the entire house erupted in cheers and screams. I still have the goosebumps. Michael had been recording the TV broadcast and bolted out of his room when the news came. The tape kept rolling and captured the family talking, crying, friends and relatives coming to the house, and the dog barking. Michael Denton had not heard the tape for almost 40 years and I was given an amazing gift of reliving an amazing moment for he and his family. Jeremiah Denton had come home and Michael Denton got it on tape the moment they first heard. Always push record. hulu/watch/615163
Posted on: Sat, 05 Apr 2014 04:07:47 +0000
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