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finchaser
06-14-2010, 03:20 PM
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.
'Petawawa. We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Afghanistan .'

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 the east, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time...

As I reached for my wallet, I overheard a 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 base.'

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 and 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 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.


Prayer chain for our Military... Don't break it!

Please send this on after a short prayer.. Prayer for our soldiers. Don't break it!

Prayer:

'Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. Amen.'


There is nothing attached. Just send this to people in your address book. Do not let it stop with you. Of all the gifts you could give a Marine, Soldier, Sailor, Airman, & others deployed in harm's way, prayer is the very best one.

GOD BLESS YOU FOR PASSING IT ON!

storminsteve
06-14-2010, 05:21 PM
:clapping::clapping::clapping::clapping::clapping: Great post!

clamchucker
06-14-2010, 05:51 PM
Thank you for posting that finchaser.

Pebbles
06-14-2010, 06:05 PM
I sometimes stop to think about how many people actually say thanks to the men and women who have or are serving in our military.

Every time I see a soldier I stop and thank them. I hope you are all doing the same.

The last time I went out west, I was getting a boarding pass to a flight that was already delayed 2 hours. There was a soldier standing by the side that approached the ticket agent at the gate. When he explained how he needed immediate assistance, because he was transferring to a flight leaving to Iraq, the ticket agent told him to get to the end of the line.

The soldier told him about some priority status military personnel have, the agent became upset with him. Since it was my turn next I told the agent to wait on him. I also told him that he should have more respect for our service men.

To make a long story short the soldier did not make the flight. The ticket agent had to speak to his commanding officer and book him on the next possible flight out.

rip316
06-14-2010, 09:19 PM
Great story.

surfstix1963
06-15-2010, 05:30 AM
Excellent post Fin there are far too many people who just disregard our service men and woman and what they are willing to give to this country for the rest of us.My stepson is a marine also his wife, I thank God that they both made it back here safely and they now have a beautiful baby to raise.Everytime you see a veteran they should be thanked and if the chance arises maybe you can do something for them, however little it may be I can tell you it will be welcomed.Thats my stepson mike my daughter is next to him and my son behind mike.Boy they all grew up so damn fast I'm getting close to the OGB Club.

DarkSkies
06-15-2010, 07:41 AM
Excellent post Fin there are far too many people who just disregard our service men and woman and what they are willing to give to this country for the rest of us.My stepson is a marine also his wife, I thank God that they both made it back here safely and they now have a beautiful baby to raise.Everytime you see a veteran they should be thanked and if the chance arises maybe you can do something for them, however little it may be I can tell you it will be welcomed.Thats my stepson mike my daughter is next to him and my son behind mike.Boy they all grew up so damn fast I'm getting close to the OGB Club.

Beautiful pic, Surfstix, may God bless him and your family. :clapping: :thumbsup::thumbsup:

surfstix1963
06-15-2010, 05:53 PM
Thanks Rich he grew into a fine man.

Pebbles
06-16-2010, 06:18 PM
Thank them from us here at SnA.

They are the ones who protect our children.

plugcrazy
06-17-2010, 06:26 PM
Ran into soldier on my way home today. I rolled down my window and told him thanks.

by Kiki Moss (http://www.helium.com/users/278602/show_articles)

None braver.No bolder
None as great as the American Soldier
So selfless,so grand.A hero to me
Never would I have the courage to follow or to be
Thank you Soldier,for all that you do
No words to express that gratitude due
Prayers