In Excelsis Deo

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From episode 10 of Season 1 of the West Wing, this requires just a bit of background. Earlier in the episode, Mrs. Landingham tells of her twin sons being killed in Vietnam on Christmas Eve, and how she always thinks of them during Christmas. She thinks of how scared they must have been and how she couldn't have been there for them.

The clip is a bit long, but gives the background on how Toby became aware of the homeless vet who passed away, and the strings he pulled to get him an honor guard burial.

The final sequence of the honor guard burial intermixed with the boys choir in the White House makes me cry every time I watch it. To me, this was television at it's finest.

Merry Christmas all:

Comments

  1. Just Dave5:54 PM

    To me, this whole series embodied the finest in television. I remember this episode well, as I was very touched by it also.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Cap'n Ergo "XL+II" Jinglebollocks6:40 PM

    that's what I likes about this blog: from the ridiculous (friday's post) to the sublime.

    ReplyDelete
  3. SkylersDad6:42 PM

    Ah but we both know which direction I lean towards, don't we?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Joe11:17 PM

    Beautiful. Well worth sitting through.

    Merry Christmas to you and your family.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ellen Aim6:06 AM

    I remember that episode! Great stuff.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Cap'n Ergo "XL+II" Jinglebollocks7:18 AM

    Sky Dad, I'm all for leaning in both directions!! :)

    also, I think someone just posted "in excessive dildo" on youporn.com. Not that I know firsthand, it's just that guys talk, you hear things...

    ReplyDelete
  7. paperback reader8:07 AM

    Some day, when I'm retired and have nothing to fill my days with other than the drink, I'm going to watch this entire series. Til then, however, I'll stay in my position of never having seen an episode.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous9:45 AM

    I remember this episode, and all the others too. I never planned to start watching the show, but re-runs of "The West Wing" came on every day after something else I did watch and I got suckered in to it. I think it was just disgust with the current administration that made me so desperate to believe in an alternate universe where competent people who meant well tried their best to make things better for everyone. It left me a little misty eyed on more than one occasion, I'll adit.

    Merry Christmas to you and your family. Stay warm!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Sandi's Zoo1:16 PM

    I think West Wing was one on the best series ever on TV. The Politics aside, the writing was excellent and topical and it always made you think.

    Merry Christmas to all and to all a good Merlot!!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Johnny Yen1:29 PM

    West Wing was my best friend Jim's favorite television series when it ran (I got him Season 1 for Christmas a few years ago when it came out on DVD). Watching this clip, I can see why.

    Another favorite clip I've seen is the one in which the President replies to a religious fundamentalist. It's funny, but adresses how stupid literal takings of religious scripture is.

    ReplyDelete

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