Posted on 09/13/2003 4:58:00 PM PDT by carlo3b
AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL.. AND SELFISH, AND SPOILED....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 shook 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 hero's 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 !!!!!
I have a homepage? I'll check it out. (Thanks, it would be better if I ever learn to post photos. I have some great ones from Scotland, Germany and southern Africa.)
I don't know about that, when my husband was in charge of hiring for a division of a fortune 500 company for 8 1/2 years, he made it a point to check service records, while doing background checks, and always gave veterans priority.
God Bless our wonderful military men and women! I'm so proud of our son-in-law Eric, stationed on Okinawa, who just got promoted to Major, USMC!
My Dad, a former Lt. Col in the USAF, with security clearance that allowed him to have Kissinger as his passenger, worked collecting tires for a retread company for a year after he left the Air Force.
While working as 2nd in command under Chang Kai Chek, he was given a parting gift of a silver plated wrench mounted on a plaque, calling him "The Flying Mechanic," in response to his willingness to roll up his sleeves for anything mechanical- aircraft or scooter. He bought a Phillips 66 franchise 6 months before the oil embargo and lost everything.
It didn't matter. At the time of his death, he owned 6 aircraft and the cars that followed us to the graveyard stretched over two miles down the turnpike.
My friend Milo served his country honorably. Now he is a "war criminal" and can't go home. He never had a trial.
My brother was spit on when he came home from Viet Nam.
My employer was on the "Kitty Hawk" when they had a race riot.
No one in his right mind goes into the military for "glory." There is no glory in war. Just fighting for your convictions and being a part of something greater than yourself.
My Dad loved the line in Patton where he said, "No one ever won a war by dying for his country."
It has been my experience that if one must be unemployed anywhere in the world, this is the country to do it in...
I also truely believe That I would have cheered any service men who came on late, and would have been delighted that the airline had waited for them.
It's hard to think I would have been alone.
Geez. Does she have a lot of tattoos and talk with a cigarette dangling out of her mouth?
Bump!
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