Note from two boys make the day for Tampa airport Guardsmen [AP]

AP, via The Naples Daily News ^ | AP

[summer]

Florida front | Florida archive | help Note from two boys make the day for Tampa airport Guardsmen

Wednesday, October 10, 2001

Associated Press

LAKELAND — Two National Guardsmen on patrol at Tampa International Airport were approached by boys, about 4 and 6 years old, who handed them a piece of paper.

It was a note that said: thank you.

Lakeland-based Florida National Guard Spc. Billy Halterman and Pfc. Steve Meredith were in a terminal corridor when the boys came up to them.

"They both walked up and the little one stopped and gave me a salute," said Halterman, 20, of Haines City. "We saluted back. The older boy then said, 'We have something for you,' and handed me the note."

The boys saluted, walked back to their parents and left to board a plane Sunday.

When the guardsmen unfolded the notebook paper they found the boys had drawn an American flag and a smiling solder. The message read:

"Dear armymen and policemen. Thank you for keeping our country safe. Your freinds (sic), Murphy and Hayden."

"It made everybody smile," Halterman said. "We pull long shifts and are on our feet for hours and then when something like this happens, it makes you feel like you've done it all for something important."

[summer]

From above article:

"Dear armymen and policemen. Thank you for keeping our country safe.

Your freinds (sic),

Murphy and Hayden." [Ages 4 and 6]

[summer]

Dearest David,

Hope this article makes your day over there in Bosnia!

Please share this true story with all the fine men and women serving our country with you.

With love to you and your family, from your friend back home in Florida,

summer :)

[summer]

AMERICAN LOVES OUR NATIONAL GUARD AND ALL OUR MILITARY PEOPLE = AMERICA....

[Alabama_Wild_Man]

"...AMERICA LOVES OUR NATIONAL GUARD AND ALL OUR MILITARY PEOPLE..."

YEP !! !! !!

[summer]

BTTT for YOUR post!!! :)

[Guenevere]

Let's keep this BTTT!!....It's such a heartwarmer!

[Clintons Are White Trash]

"Dear armymen and policemen. Thank you for keeping our country safe." - a BIG ditto here!!

[summer]

I'll go with that! :)

[DB]

And you hope Anthrax isn't inside the folded paper...

It is a sad state of affairs when you have to worry about such things...

[summer]

Thank you too! Our FR friend in Bosnia, David Osborne, will really appreciate these bumps! :)

[bosniajmc]

hey, where's david staioned at? I'm at Camp Comanche (near Tuzla). Does he post/lurk here at FR?

[DKNY]

I too am grateful to our National Guard, although I would actually feel safer if they were carrying weapons, might be more effective. Thinking my fellow travelers are probably better armed.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Wonderful post!

[davidosborne]

That is great !!

Thanks for the flag

David

[ez2muz]

bump

[davidosborne]

Yes I do.. I am here at Eagle Base..

David C. Osborne (For U.S. Senate in 2004)

[ASA Vet]

The guard troops here at the airport in Grand Rapids are armed with pistols. I assume live ammo too.

[DKNY]

According to Fox News not here in NY...not at the airports or the train stations.

[JudyB1938]

"And a little child shall lead them."

[summer]

Re your post #13 -- Thanks! :)