First Class Passengers Give Up Their Seats to Returning Soldiers!

FOX6 Morning News - San Diego, CA | 07/12/2004 | NordP

[NordP]

It started with one first class passenger asking a soldier what seat he was sitting in, as he passed by in the airplane's isle. The soldier mentioned a seat in the back, but the passenger in 1st class told him no, you're taking MY seat.

[NordP]

No, it was on our local FOX station - a package news story from another city.

The flight attendant was interviewed. She had photos taken with the soldiers.

[NordP]

"A version of it is listed as "pending" on this snopes writeup from back in 2003."

This is a completely different story.

[Americanwolf]

Thank God some are showing respect and appreciation to the boys that are out there risking it for us all....

This hits really close to home for me... when I was in the service in 1995 I was trying to get home on Emergency leave and was waiting at San Fransisco airport for a standby seat. I was in my Navy Dress blues, and a gentleman walk up and asked if i was waiting for a standby seat and where I was headed. I advised that I was trying to get to Milwaukee via Chicago O'Hare. He was on the next flight leaving within 45 minutes. with out a question he handed me his ticket and wished me Godspeed getting home. I at first refused and advised I would wait my turn till I could get a seat via the normal means. He said nothing put the ticket in my hand and walk away. I try to run after him and thank him he just told me to remember the action of strangers, and that is all he would say.

After he left I pulled the ticket out of its jacket and say that it was a first class seat, and it was issued to his company as a business ticket. I wrote back to the company based in San Fransisco offering to pay for the ticket and act of kindness. The secretary that returned the letter advised me that the companies owner was well aware of the fact that one of there tickets had been given to a sailor in need, he appreciated the thanks, but would refuse any offers of repayment. The last line from the secretary caught me though. She stated that the owner wanted to remind me that all I needed to do was remember the kindness of a stranger in a time of need.

I see thing like this happen and reminds me that all the bad we see in the media on a daily basis that small tokens like this, may not mean a lot to some, but to the soldier or sailor it may mean all the world. I think those who offer of the selves like the passengers on this flight deserve much thanks also for show respect and compassion to their fellow man.... something I don't think so of our liberal country people understand hence the don't report it in the news. Thanks for posting this great article. And thank you all for allowing me to share a bit of myself. God Bless our soldiers overseas and at home, and God Bless the USA.

[Cooter]

My family did that last year. We couldn't book a row together, so my wife traded with another passenger once on the plane. No problem.

[mrs tiggywinkle]

God bless your son, jonsie. I'm so very thankful he received well deserved honor and respect on his flight home. What a precious memory. :o)

[LibertyThug]

I'm very glad that people are showing appreciation for your son and his service to our country. He, and all the soldiers, deserve all the appreciation we can offer.

[Young Werther]

My wife and daughter were returning from a family reunion. I was waiting at DFW Airport and saw something that We all should do when going to an airport nowadays. Alas I was high fived but next trip I will be prepared.

As I waited for the "girls" I noticed many GIs waiting in the baggage claim area. Then I noticed a couple of older gents, veterans no doubt. They were walking up and down the waiting area passing out candy to the troops.

Next time you go to an airport, bus or train station stop by the store and pick up something for the troops. The deserve it and the gesture itself is worth more than a small snicker!

BTW My daughter observed that the GIs, in Desert fatigues, had to take off their boots for inspection!!!! Go Figger....

[NordP]

Please pass the tissue box to me, AGAIN....

What a wonderful story - God Bless your son - and you too for loaning him to our great country!!!

I had to stop 'cause I couldn't read aloud anymore when I got to the part where you typed, "mom they made me feel important".

Wow...tissue alert!

Big Hugs and a Civilian Salute to your Son!!! HE IS QUITE DEFINITELY IMPORTANT - SO VERY, VERY IMPORTANT!!!!!

[Ann Archy]

Thanks for the great story...I have tears.

[Ignatius J Reilly]

sure beats getting spit on and being called baby-killer etc. This gives me hope Americans are changing for the better

[Vigilantcitizen]

See #14......:)

[doug from upland]

I just verified with Fox6 News in San Diego. The info came to them from Fox4 in Chicago. It was an American Airlines flight from Atlanta to Chicago.

[NordP]

Thanks for letting us know. We called our Fox6 station, and their news guy started to talk to us about it, and let us know that it was a story by Melissa Cutler from Fox4 News--he didn't say where, and then asked us if we could call him back in a half an hour, because he was in a meeting right now. He said he got another call on the story today, too...someone else wanted the specifics, as well. Bless HIS little heart for trying to be so helpful during a meeting!

The world is a changing! ;-)

[Americanwolf]

I have them from remembering it... sniff sniff... :) they are good tears though...

[NordP]

We just found it.... www.KDFWFOX4.com - headline story "Soldiers Learn New Meaning of First Class."

Take a look...

[NordP]

He said he got another call on the story today, too...someone else wanted the specifics, as well.

Probably YOU, Doug! ;-)

[doug from upland]

Yep, he told me someone else was on the line with the same question. :)

[Az. Mike]

After reading this, is there any doubt about this election's outcome? We're that 'silent majority' that pollsters never ask, that media never caters to and politicians seldom 'reach out' to (unless it's to snatch money away from us). They hope we'll be so disgusted with the state of political electioneering, that we'll simply stay home, while they bus in their newly registered voters to take our place, with a far different outcome.
This article should remind you of the many good and decent Americans still out there. If you stay home, their deeds and the sacrifices of our brave soldiers will have been in vain.

[NordP]

God Bless YOU soldier, and friend.

It is time for stories like these to make it out into the light.

Thanks for sharing!

[NordP]

Very well said!