Posted on 02/10/2007 10:35:36 PM PST by real saxophonist
I went to a drive-thru yesterday, and when I got to the window, the girl told me the lady in front of me saw my Marine Corps license plates, and she paid for my stuff.
I didn't get a chance to thank her, she just drove away, and it was just totally out of the blue. That was really cool. I'm still thinking about that. I've been out for 15 years. Wow. You read about stuff like this from time to time, someone seeing someone in uniform and paying their tab, but this actually happened to me, and I thought I'd let y'all know.
This is what the tags look like:
Had to show a DD214 and pay $25 extra, but I must admit I'm pretty proud of them.
WOW! That is nice. What a wonderful thing to do, and she probably understood she wouldn't get to be thanked. It didn't matter to her. What if she's a FReeper, tho????!!! Strange things can happen...
I bought Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas lunch once.
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3a26dc3333ab.htm
Clarence Thomas will be hearing an important case tomorrow. It reminds me of the time, several weeks ago, when my sons and I went to Chilies restaurant on a Saturday afternoon. We were seated at a booth. We had just gotten our food (the fajitas are great when you get a good batch), when a couple and a little kid were seated at a booth right next to us. I glanced over, and had to take a double take. Was that who I thought it was? Then the man laughed, and that was the conformation, we are having lunch with Justice Clarence Thomas.
I had, for several years, had my oldest son watch Justice Thomas whenever he would make speeches on C-Span. I would explain to him that this was a good strong man. After a few years, my son started to inform me when Justice Thomas was on TV. His intelligence and down to earth demeanor always inspired us.
I leaned over to my son, as he was gobbling down his nachos and asked him if he recognized who was at the next table. His eyes grew wide and glassy, his face turned red and he said “its…its…its..” And I said “that’s right, isn’t it fun living in Fairfax Virginia?” My son didn’t eat much after that. Well we were almost finished, and the table was cleaned and we were waiting for the check. I knew that this was it, and I had to say something. I turned toward his table and said “Justice Thomas”. He looked over at me, with a look of surprise, and I then said “When are you going to convince your associates to actually read the Constitution, and enforce the 10th amendment?”. There was a second’s pause, where you get to reflect about what a fool you are potentially creating of yourself. And then it happened, Justice Thomas laughed, that big resounding laugh. I made Clarence Thomas laugh, how cool is that?
We talked for a few moments. For some reason the subject of C-Span came up. Justice Thomas related how he was watching C-Span that morning, and how this crabby woman called, and was complaining about how the government should be doing all of these things like health care and saving the environment, etcetera. After the woman was done with her tirade, the moderator of the show told the woman that she should call here congressperson and senators. The moderator then asked the woman who her representatives are. And the woman did not know! We all had a good laugh over this.
About that time, their food came, so we shook hands, and bid them goodbye. I told the boys to meet me at the front of the restaurant in a few moments, as I swung around to the kitchen area, and told the waiter I wanted to pay the tab and tip for the booth next to us. The transaction was processed, and we left. As we walked to the car, my son asked me what I had done while they were waiting for me. I said “I just bought lunch for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas”. Thus I went up several points in my “cool dad” status that day.
After a couple of hours, I went back to the restaurant and asked the waiter what had happened after we left. He said Justice Thomas was at a loss for words when told that someone had paid for their lunch. The waiter said he just kept on repeating “Thank you, Thank you” over and over again.
Ps
Justice Thomas ordered Buffalo wings as an appetizer. I can’t remember what his entrée was, sorry.
Try Sgt. Grit at
http://www.grunt.com/
This site sells hundreds of bumper stickers and other Marine items.
Another is The Catalog of Marine Corps Gifts and Books at
http://www.mca-marines.org.
The bumper sticker you're interested in is in this catalog.
I've read this whole thread and I'm bawling like a baby.
Oh, shoot, I thought you went a whole day without seeing the Anna Nicole thread title ;-) Way to go, Devil Dog. That's really nice to hear. I'm sure it warmed your heart.
Nice Story! Here in Tennessee, we can get veterans plates that have no service affiliation for a nominal fee and proof of DD214. It only has the American flag on it and says "Honorably Discharged Veteran". The active guard and retirees can get their tags with their branch of service and logo on them. Wish we could get veteran tags with our service affiliation too.
Thanks.
I passed that along
Both of my sons were in Desert Storm (Army). When it was over, they visited me in Lafayette LA. We went out on the town to celebrate. We paid for nothing all night. Folks just overwhelmed us with their gratitude and generosity. I will never forget that night. Youngest son made the Army a career, and just spent 465 days in Mosul and Baghdad. Same sort of thing still happens to him all the time. Airline gave him a seat in First Class when he came home on leave half way through the latest Iraq tour. It makes me proud when I see our military and veterans being shown appreciation for what they do and have done.
Excellent story
I have often wished I knew how to thank servicemen when I see them in public. While I was reading this post, I thought of something. I plan to go to a place where they print business cards and order cards to express my gratitude for their service. When I see a serviceman all is needed is a smile and hand them a card.
Another thought, your computer can be used to print the cards.
I would have liked to ask the guy driving the car where he got it.
__________________________________________________________
Someone here on Freerepublic has instructions for making magnetic "stickers" for your care.
Craft shops carry the "Paper" and you run it through your printer.
I'll remember that next time I'm at a drive-thru McDonalds. Thanks!
Yeah!
The best present I ever got my dad was a year ago Christmas.
Nothing fancy, just a black baseball cap. With Veteran: WWII, Korea, Vietnam above the bill.
It's started more conversations, gotten him in more doors, and more free cups of coffee than he can remember
Two years ago, there was a young soldier in the greater Cincinnatti area who went to a jewelry store at a mall. While there he was talking to the salesperson and she asked him about his purchase. He told her that he had just returned from Iraq and he wanted to buy an engagement ring for his girlfriend. The salesperson was helping him look at the rings. And at the same time they were talking about credit and payment options.
In the store was a woman who was just finishing up her purchase. She had been helped by another salesperson. While she was waiting she overheard the soldier tell his tale. Shortly afterwards, the woman left.
When the soldier went to purchase a ring, he found that there was no charge. The manager and the woman who was shopping had devised a plan. The woman who had listened to his story had prepaid for any ring he chose in the store.
Her only request was that she remain anonymous and that the manager of the store relay to the young man that she was just doing her part to thank him for his service, and that she hoped he and his girlfriend would have a bright future.
(My mother heard this on her local news radio station.)
I was in for 15 years. My brother and his wife are still in and they are both Commanders.
My sons (Navy brats) decided to go Army. 'Course they ended up going to Iraq and they love their jobs.
God bless.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.