I have seen similar things happen in a whole lot of airports.
Yeah, I was in DIA not long ago when a GI in uniform was getting a ration of crap from a hippie type female and her male companion. All of a sudden a woman gets up out of her seat and just lands right in the middle of the,( she had to be in her late 70's and she was using a walker). I don't think these kids had ever been talked to in that tone of voice or in that manner.
A week ago, I flew through Atlanta and Salt Lake. The airports were loaded with military. I shook hands with each one of them and thanked them for their service.