[little jeremiah]

Thank you for posting such a touching and sincere article. Soldiering is a noble profession. Or it can be.

[JSteff]

How powerful and uplifting, thank you for posting this.

[AppauledAtAppeasementConservat]

- I could not help but respond: “Yes, and when they come back, they are men.” -

Amen! It's sad that there are so many people like the one that commented negativily about the war that have no dignity. They some how know enough to keep their mouths shut in front of our boys...I wonder why? LOL!

[half_nelson]

It really makes you put things into perspective. What did I do today? Nothing that compares to the sacrafices that these people make daily. It takes so much courage. I have nothing but the highest admiration for them all. Thanks for the post.

[Flora McDonald]

I hope all of our soldiers are treated with the same respect and gratitude that was shown this young man. They are America's best. God bless them all.

[LoudRepublicangirl]

Okay, I am wiping my tears away now as I am typing this.

[armymarinemom]

I love this story. Something I have noticed about my own kids is that when they call home they always end with a resounding "I love you". We used to end our conversations with a quick "Love ya" that sounded a lot like an obligatory "see ya later".

[FlyLow]

As I walked into the terminal, a passenger somewhat sourly remarked: “We sent boys to fight our wars.

I could not help but respond: “Yes, and when they come back, they are men.”

---

I agree...it happened to me in 1968-69 when I returned home from Vietnam. I did not want to associated with the "kids" I knew when I left. I just wanted to be around responsible citizens who had seen pain and had lived through it. I feel most of the soldiers we send off to war will find ways to live through it. (thank GOD)

[VOA]

bump

[VOA]

bump

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Thank you, ftd, boxer. Y

---

...As we were getting up, the man next to the soldier slipped him a five dollar bill telling him to get himself a drink. When he tried to refuse, the man insisted and would not take no for an answer. Other passengers engaged him in conversation as he worked his way up the aisle.

As we left the plane, the crew mechanically wished us all happy holidays. However, when the soldier neared the door, the crew member broke all protocol and effusively exclaimed: “God bless you and may He be with you over there. Come back safely!”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Soldier on leave from Iraq is lovingly, respectfully, openly, generously welcomed by grateful fellow Americans.

Warning, blurry screen alert!!!

[RottiBiz]

In this vale of tears, there will always be suffering, evil and conflict. And for this reason there will always be soldiers. In face of the evils confronting society, there will always be those who must put their lives on the line. They make the supreme and sublime sacrifice so that others might live in peace. That is why we honor them.

Hear! Hear!

Thank you for posting this beautiful article.

[gatorbait]

There were also passengers who did not like the soldier. To them, he represented a terrible reality that they would like to forget. While they dared not manifest themselves in the plane, they kept an uneasy glance over our way.

With luck, these scum suckers will enjoy the trip to some exotic place and enjoy further the company of those this young man is defending against. Perhaps ,luckier still, this young warrior and his buddies will arrive seconds too late...