I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. 'I'm glad I have a good book to read. Perhaps I will get a short nap,' I thought.
Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation. 'Where are you headed?' I asked the soldier seated nearest to me. '
We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to
After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached
I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight
attendant a fifty dollar bill. 'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.' She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. 'My son was a soldier in
Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers w ere seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, 'Which do you like best - beef or chicken?' 'Chicken,' I replied, wondering why she asked. She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class. 'This is your thanks.
After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room. A man stopped me. 'I saw what you did. I want to be part of it.. Here, take this.' He handed me twenty-five dollars.
Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand, man said, 'I want to shake your hand.' Quickly unfastening my seatbelt I stood and took the Captain's hand. With a booming voice he said, 'I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.' I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers.
Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.
When we landed in
Another twenty-five dollars! Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base. I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. 'It will take you some time to reach the base. It will be about time for a sandwich. God Bless You.
Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers. As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country.. I could only give them a couple of meals. It seemed so little...
A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life wrote a blank check Made payable to 'The United States of America ' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.' That is Honor, and there are way too many people in This country who no longer understand it.
Do you understand and appreciate what they are doing? Share this with a friend so we will never forget!
GOD BLESS
Thanks for your imput waddie, what I got out of this was people showing others a goodness out of their heart. I know that this is just their job.. wow what a job, I could never do it. so glad they are people who do..... I know someone at work that has pulled 3 tours, he saids alot of good is being done.. never makes it in the news... I wish this war would end also...
That was a very sweet letter. I liked it.I didn't notice anyone in the email state their posistion on the war in Iraq. Maybe I should go back and re-read it? I thought it was a group of people who were showing support and gratitude to the troops. I liked it too. My sons have many stories of kind people who have picked up tabs, come up to shake their hands and say thank you, gosh, one guy snuck up behind my son and paid his grocery bill!