Tommy
Well-known member
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. 'Chicago - to Great Lakes Base. We'll be
There for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed
To Iraq '
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 Chicago, and I quickly decided a lunch
Would help pass the time. As I reached for my wallet, I overheard
Soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. 'No, that seems like
A lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five
Bucks. I'll wait till we get to Chicago ' His friend agreed.
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 Iraq; it's almost like
You are doing it for him.'
Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to
Where the soldiers were 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, an 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 Chicago I gathered
My belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane
Door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, And walked away without saying a word. 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.'
If you are a VETERAN you will understand, if not, send to a VETERAN you
Know.
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. 'Chicago - to Great Lakes Base. We'll be
There for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed
To Iraq '
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 Chicago, and I quickly decided a lunch
Would help pass the time. As I reached for my wallet, I overheard
Soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. 'No, that seems like
A lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five
Bucks. I'll wait till we get to Chicago ' His friend agreed.
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 Iraq; it's almost like
You are doing it for him.'
Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to
Where the soldiers were 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, an 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 Chicago I gathered
My belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane
Door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, And walked away without saying a word. 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.'
If you are a VETERAN you will understand, if not, send to a VETERAN you
Know.
