Posted on 11/01/2008 1:12:47 PM PDT by Donald Rumsfeld Fan
The Sack Lunches
I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. 'I'm glad I have a good book to read Perhaps I will get a short nap,' I thought.
Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation. 'Where are you headed?' I asked the soldier seated nearest to me.
' Chicago - to Great Lakes Base. We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Iraq '
After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached Chicago , and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time.
As I reached for my wallet, I overheard soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. 'No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks. I'll wait till we get to Chicago '
His friend agreed.
I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. 'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.' She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. 'My son was a soldier in Iraq ; it's almost like you are doing it for him.'
Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, 'Which do you like best - beef or chicken?'
'Chicken,' I replied, wondering why she asked. She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class. 'This is your thanks.'
After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room. A man stopped me. 'I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this.' He handed me twenty-five dollars.
Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand, an said, 'I want to shake your hand.'
Quickly unfastening my seatbelt I stood and took the Captain's hand. With a booming voice he said, 'I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.' I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers.
Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.
When we landed in Chicago I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars!
Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base. I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. 'It will take you some time to reach the base. It will be about time for a sandwich. God Bless You.'
Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers. As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals.
It seemed so little...
A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America ' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'
That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand that.'
2 weeks ago, while teaching in Alhambra, I bought lunch for a female Army Major at an IHOP. (I am Hispanic/White and she was Black). She first tried to discourage it, but I insisted that as a Vet of 2 wars, it is my obligation and duty to make sure her service is recognized, I saw tears in her eyes as she gracefully accepted. We can make a difference one step at a time.
I tried doing something similar. Saw some soldiers at a buffet and I went up to the cashier and gave her $40, telling her that the GIs' money was no good there. She gave it back and said, "you're the third guy to try that."
Pretty cool. First from the standpoint that there were others ready to step up and second, she could have pocketed the extras and nobody would have been the wiser.
awesome.
Thank you so much for such an uplifting story. I only pray that others are that kind to my Chief.
mrs
I was in Philly airport not too long ago, and there was a noncom there who was on his way back from overseas to see his wife down in Fayetteville, NC (Ft. Bragg).
The ground crew bought him a bottle of champagne, let him board first (after telling us what was going on) and made us all sing, "God Bless America" for him before he boarded.
God bless Southwest. There's a reason they're my favorite airline.
Whenever I'm traveling, and I'm in an airport bar, if there are grunts in there, they get a round of beers.
I bought two kids in camo their orders when they were in line behind me at the Krystal restaurant on Concourse "B" in Atlanta airport a couple of weeks ago.
Once, unbeknownst to him, I bought a bird colonel his dinner and a drink, and wrote a note thanking him for doing his job which was keeping kids like my nephew safe.
Thank your relative again.
Stuff like this means more to those kids than we will ever know.
Most of what they hear, is of course the MSM and negavitity.
we usually corner our servers as soon as the serviceman sits down and tell them the meal is on us. We shake their hands and thank them as we leave, but don’t mention the meal.
GOD what a great story!
Thank you from a Viet Nam vet who was spit on!
We will win this!!!
Concur.
I tend to be discreet unless we’re in line and I can’t help but be overheard by the “target”, or if it’s a question of buying beers.
So if you don't travel and have the opportunity to do this kind of stuff face-to-face, consider making a contribution to the USO.
It IS a great story! God bless you for your service! I’d like to punch out that person who spit on you. Hope he/she rots in hell!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE! God bless you.
Darned monitor, getting all blurry and such.
I’ve done the same thing for US Military in-line at the local Sheetz Gas Stations, here in Penna/ MD, and have taken care of their morning coffees etc, as well as their lunches & snacks, whenever I find them in-line, and *always anonymously*.
I’ve always said to them, Thank you for your ervice”, as I’ve paid-up for me and them, and walked past to the exit, either shaking their hand, or patting them on the back. But I want it to remain anonymous. I have that “tacit agreement” with the checkout ladies, at 6am, on my way to work.
The ladies who staff the check-out lines know me from the past 6-8yrs I’ve been coming there, and always have a nice smile for me, and we share that “special secret”.
(smile)
It makes me feel all warm & fuzzy, inside. Besides donating to the USO, and to Hannity’s Freedom Foundation, I wish I could do more. I remember the “reception” I got coming back from Vietnam in 1968, and I don’t want that to happen to any of these wonderful men and women. They’re America’s Future, and deserve all that I can do to help, and a whole lot more.
Great story, sir, and many thanks for posting it.
Wow! So wonderful. I love this story!!!
The first (and only) two funerals my teen children went to were for friends. One, a girl of 13 who lost her life to Cystic Fybrosis, and the other a young gentleman - my son’s childhood friend - who lost his life during the first few months in Iraq.
I take EVERY opportunity I have to shake the hands of those that serve, or have ever served, and to thank them for their service. I come from along line of a military family - some in every branch and I am so sick of those loud mouth, disgusting liberals (esp. code pink) that continually run their mouths and spit upon our service members. They forget that it’s our service men and women that ensure that they have the right to speak their minds!
Thank you to all the service members for keeping my children and my family free!
God Bless Our Military, God Bless America, and God Bless the Future President of the United States, Senator John S McCain!!!
Oh Bravo!! What a marvelous idea!! Forward that story along with a request for the USO indeed!!! I’m gonna suggest same to our local AFSA chapter for our next fundraiser!! Woohoo, the Chief wins again, and the Chapter!!
Thank you to all that serve
mrs
Hey Calif4Bush! Never on my watch, never again.
Thank you so much!
mrs
My mom sent me this email yesterday. What a great message. God bless our country (we need it more than ever now!).
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