A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....09-08-03....Military Monday

To: MEG33; Mama_Bear; ladtx; Aeronaut; The Mayor; Calpernia; All

Most here have heard my story about this era many times.
Nonetheless, I will post it again lest it be forgotten.
We cannot allow it to happen again, that our men and women must literally slink home,
relegated to the 'back of the bus' because they ARE military.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

An e-mail received from a friend here - - -

I sat in my seat of the Boeing 767 waiting for everyone to hurry and stow their carry-ons and grab a seat so we could start what I was sure to be a long , uneventful flight home. With the huge capacity and slow-moving people taking their time to stuff luggage far too big for the overhead and never paying much attention to holding up the growing line behind them, I simply shook my head knowing that this flight was not starting out very well.

I was anxious to get home to see my loved ones so I was focused on "my" issues and just felt like standing up and yelling for some of these clowns to get their act together. I knew I couldn't say a word so I just thumbed thru the "Sky Mall" magazine from the seat pocket in front of me. You know it's really getting rough when you resort to the over priced, useless sky mall crap to break the monotony. With everyone finally seated, we just sat there with the cabin door open and no one in any hurry to get us going although we were well past the scheduled take off time. No wonder the airline industry is in trouble I told myself.

Just then, the attendant came on the intercom to inform us all that we were being delayed. The entire plane let out a collective groan. She resumed speaking to say "We are holding the aircraft for some very special people who are on their way to the plane and the delay shouldn't be more than 5 minutes."

The word came after waiting six times as long as we were promised that "I" was finally going to be on my way home. Why the hoopla over "these" folks? I was expecting some celebrity or sport figure to be the reason for the hold up.........Just get their butts in a seat and lets hit the gas I thought.

The attendant came back on the speaker to announce in a loud and excited voice that we were being joined by several U. S. Marines returning home from Iraq!!! Just as they walked on board, the entire plane erupted into applause. The men were a bit taken by surprise by the 340 people cheering for them as they searched for their seats. They were having their hands shaken and touched by almost everyone who was within an arm's distance of them as they passed down the aisle. One elderly woman kissed the hand of one of the Marines as he passed by her.

The applause, whistles and cheering didn't stop for a long time. When we were finally airborne, "I" was not the only civilian checking his conscience as to the delays in "me" getting home, finding my easy chair, a cold beverage and the remote in my hand. These men had done for all of us and I had been complaining silently about "me" and "my" issues. I took for granted the everyday freedoms I enjoy and the conveniences of the American way of life I took for granted others paid the price for my ability to moan and complain about a few minutes delay to "me" those Heroes going home to their loved ones.

I attempted to get my selfish outlook back in order and minutes before we landed I suggested to the attendant that she announce over the speaker a request for everyone to remain in their seats until our heroes were allowed to gather their things and be first off the plane. The cheers and applause continued until the last Marine stepped off and we all rose to go about our too often taken for granted everyday freedoms......... I felt proud of them.

I felt it an honor and a privilege to be among the first to welcome them home and say Thank You for a job well done. I vowed that I will never forget that flight nor the lesson learned. I can't say it enough, THANK YOU to those Veterans and active servicemen and women who may read this and a prayer for those who cannot because they are no longer with us.

GOD BLESS AMERICA!
WELCOME HOME! AND THANKS FOR A JOB WELL DONE !!!!!
This is a ribbon for soldiers fighting in Iraq. Pass it on to everyone and pray.

==============================================================================

That is now. I, LadyX, REMEMBER A THEN - - -

This one hit me like a sledgehammer.

Where were they when my husband returned from Southeast Asia in October 1968,
advised to travel in civilian clothes when he reached the states?
Of course he could not, having to wear it to get military standby rates.

At Travis, a line of college kids greeted them with taunts and jeers.
Mind you, he was the forerunner of AF Special Forces for a year, and literally
snatched out of the jungle - was plunked down in Nam for hot spots (Tet and
Da Nang, for example) and once in NORTH Vietnam to make sure a downed
F-111 had self-destructed.
He and his men all year ensured the safety of the planes taking off and landing at
an Air Base, and patrolled the outlying villages to weed out 'strangers' -
communists who slipped in to down the planes with shoulder-fired rockets.

One gal spit in his face and reflexively, he snapped her arm and broke it - -
all those with him grabbed a punk and hauled them into the bathroom.
Airport police smiled and looked the other way!

Gave them lessons in Thou Shall Not Skip School and Spit in Public 101.
As they emerged, the police gave thumbs up signs and went in to clean up the
trash.

Didn't end there. Boarding the plane to Dallas, the stewardess scowled at him
and told him to sit in the back of the plane so he would
NOT UPSET THE CIVILIANS.

Same from Dallas to Columbia, SC where I waited after a VERY long year.
He had called me from Dallas to say he would take the first flight from there to
Columbia he could board, so I (from Myrtle Beach AFB) left the kids with my
sister in Summerton and went on to Columbia early in the a.m.

Waited ALL DAY LONG, meeting every flight from there - to no avail.
Finally the last plane of the day landed about 1630 - hundred plus filed off
and into the terminal. No Bernie, and I was dejected and resigned
to going back the next day.

THEN the stewardess let him off - last - all alone -

Took over 20 years for me to forgive those of that mindset.
While I did and do, it still hurts way deep down.

I thank God the Gulf War veterans demanded in New York City their tickertape
parade be to welcome home OUR HEROES of Nam as well, and show them the
long overdue honor they should have received - - -

God bless all those who served without the recognition due them......

LadyX

121 posted on 09/08/2003 11:58:57 AM PDT by LadyX (((( Count your blessings - not your woes ))))

I can't be proud of anything but voting and struggling to get Republicans elected in Texas.Thanks for your" support our troops" efforts.

You description of dress reminds of the shock I got when my son came home from college in need of a haircut and with a mustache! This was in the 70s.My daughters hair was very long and the fight over "miniskirt" length ongoing!

122 posted on 09/08/2003 12:02:03 PM PDT by MEG33

Always keeping your loved ones in mind, BeforeISleep - -

{{{{{ Hugs, BIS }}}}}

People like you make FR great...
Thank you & hugs back.

123 posted on 09/08/2003 12:06:59 PM PDT by firewalk

To: FreeTheHostages; The Thin Man; MEG33

"They say stress can appreciably shorten one's lifespan. Ah, but they also say hope springs eternal . . "

Take it back, Freezie - -
The Thin Man is a gentle soul, kind to all - -
merely misunderstood.

124 posted on 09/08/2003 12:10:02 PM PDT by LadyX (((( Count your blessings - not your woes ))))

To: BeforeISleep; Mama_Bear; MEG33; ladtx; The Thin Man; FreeTheHostages; All

Need to turn over control of the 'puter to The Other User..:>(

Be back this evening.....

125 posted on 09/08/2003 12:14:05 PM PDT by LadyX (((( Count your blessings - not your woes ))))

Hi ((((scubachick))))!

You are a shining example of patriotism to everyone in the family and we are all proud of you and Daddio!

Awwwww....thank you. But, you know, the rewards of our "activism" has put us in contact with some of the most wonderful people I could ever hope to meet. I count each one of them as a blessing in my life. :-)

BTW, I would love to see a photo of you as a "flower child"!! lol

Hmmmmmmmm.....well, okay, I'll see if I can dig one up. There aren't many of those old photos that have survived all these years. LOL.

126 posted on 09/08/2003 12:14:49 PM PDT by Mama_Bear ( Lori)

LOl, I'm sorry, it's too tempting to attack him when all that's guarding him are cartoon characters! Or are those supposed to be pictures of The Thin Man? They look a little too beefy, if you don't mind me saying so, to be him.

127 posted on 09/08/2003 12:15:53 PM PDT by FreeTheHostages

I say Welcome Home is long overdue.Tears.I have heard this before from a vet in our ongoing Iraq situation room during the war and I just wept that he could rejoice now that the attitudes are different .He had landed in San Francisco..very bad.I am angry at myself because I did not have any idea how bad it really was.I did not realize how deeply hurt and discriminated against our returning vets were.

128 posted on 09/08/2003 12:17:23 PM PDT by MEG33

My daughters hair was very long and the fight over "miniskirt" length ongoing!

Ah, yes. Mini-skirts and "go-go boots". I remember them well. LOL!

129 posted on 09/08/2003 12:18:03 PM PDT by Mama_Bear ( Lori)

Then you remember hot pants!

130 posted on 09/08/2003 12:20:05 PM PDT by MEG33

Thank you, special person, for this and for all you do here each day. Today has been a tearful journey back to the way things were,.........the way things should never, ever be again.

((((((((((ladyx)))))))))))))

131 posted on 09/08/2003 12:25:26 PM PDT by Mama_Bear ( Lori)

To: LadyX; FreeTheHostages

Take it back, Freezie - -
The Thin Man is a gentle soul, kind to all - -
merely misunderstood.

Ah, don't let her get to you Lady! Very few people have your ability in judging character. :-)

132 posted on 09/08/2003 12:25:38 PM PDT by The Thin Man

Good afternoon, L. Just now getting back to the thread after posting it this morning. I'm glad to see you here today, and also noticed several posts later that you posted your tribute to your fallen Vietnam helicopter pilots, too. Thank you for posting it again, and even if you can't do it daily, these Military Mondays are a perfect place to do so.

133 posted on 09/08/2003 12:32:05 PM PDT by Billie

Hi, Mix - it's really been nice seeing those mixed-up letters again on a regular basis!

134 posted on 09/08/2003 12:33:16 PM PDT by Billie

Hi, Maggie - yes, I'm sure that's what he was saying. :)

135 posted on 09/08/2003 12:36:03 PM PDT by Billie

136 posted on 09/08/2003 12:38:07 PM PDT by MEG33

Thank you for remembering these men.

May God Bless and comfort their families.

137 posted on 09/08/2003 12:40:16 PM PDT by JustAmy (God Bless our Military, Past and Present. Thank a Veteran for your FReedoms!)

It's amazing that people could be so cruel to treat your husband and the other military men that way. Thankfully (for the most part) things have changed.

138 posted on 09/08/2003 12:40:56 PM PDT by The Thin Man

Good afternoon, Meg. Sorry I had to post and run this morning. It's so nice having you join our Finest Family.

139 posted on 09/08/2003 12:41:29 PM PDT by Billie

It's a treat to be here.

140 posted on 09/08/2003 12:42:26 PM PDT by MEG33

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