Tuesday, November 11, 2008

The Sack Lunches

A friend sent to me this morning (author unknown) and brought tears to my eyes, I needed to post on my photo journal. We can "picture" the kindness the people on this flight have given to our servicemen and women so richly deserve.

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 soldi er 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.' Qu ickly 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 it.'

10 comments:

Astaryth said...

This is a wonderful story for a Veteran's Day morning. I hope you don't mind, but I posted a link that would lead people from my blog over here to read it. I only have a couple of readers (and they probably already read you LOL!), but I wanted to try to get as many people as I could to read this.

Julie said...

What a beautiful story. Kindness will always be rewarded and I pray and give thanks for our soldiers every day

Chris/cacklinrosie101 said...

Wow, what a beautiful story and so appropriate for honoring our veterans and our troops. I got the link from Astaryth and am very glad I follower it.

Sage Ravenwood said...

What a heartwarming story, not just for today but every day. MY SIL is being deployed to Iraq after the holidays. Thank you! (Hugs)Indigo

Dawn Allynn said...

Wonderful, wonderful post. I have a lump in my throat. Thank you so much for this post, it made my day.

Helen said...

Very good heartwarming post Betty. Helen

Cindy said...

I'm so glad you posted this, I've never read it before. I hope that my 2 Army soldier stepsons are treated as wonderfully as those soldiers were by some kind citizens. They have both done 15 month tours in Iraq; one is already back there again, and the other will be on his way back in a month, just before Christmas.

Rose said...

That story left me in tears! Beautiful story and I pray for our soldiers everyday.

Hugs, Rose

mtrib2 said...

I enjoyed reading about the kindness offered in giving the money to feed the soldier's going to Great Lakes Base, and then Iraq. I posted a comment today on Sears Web site asking for people to leave messages as well as gift's sponsoring Veteran's families. The photo's of the turkey's are unique and the landscape scenes are great. mark

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