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Anonymous
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Shortly after World War II, Jimmy Durante received a phone call from famous newspaper columnist and popular TV host Ed Sullivan. Ed wanted Jimmy to accompany him to a veterans hospital to entertain some of the wounded and disabled veterans being rehabilitated there.
Jimmy Durante was riding the crest of popularity then and his over-loaded schedule kept him extremely busy. Jimmy informed Ed that he had just received some lucrative offers to appear on two radio shows that same day.
Patriotic Jimmy didn't want to disappoint the deserving veterans so he told Ed he would gladly do the show but on one condition---he was to do his act, get off, and Ed was to see to it that he arrived at his radio shows on time! Ed Sullivan thanked Jimmy profusely for his sacrifice and promised that he would honor Jimmy's prior commitments.
Jimmy, of course, performed for more than the allotted time, even though Ed kept besieging him to wrap it up or he would be late for his radio shows. When he left the stage, he apologized to Ed for overstaying his designated time and keeping the other acts waiting, but he related to Ed that he just couldn't leave this wonderful bunch of veterans. With tears brimming in his eyes, Jimmy pointed out to the audience and said to Ed, "Take a look at those two soldiers in the front row."
Ed Sullivan followed Jimmy's pointing finger and saw two soldiers standing there and each had lost an arm. They were continuing to applaud Jimmy Durante with the rest of the audience by clapping their two remaining hands together.
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Credit: Passed on through the Internet.
Note: Submitted by Priscilla H. Porter.
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