C&P (from 6-12mos): Something nice to read...

tinytot_924

I had to C&P this because my BIL is overseas right now and I love hearing stories like this.  It made me cry, but these days, hearing the National Anthem makes me break down.  Anyway, enjoy! 

 

This is a nice story about paying it forward.  

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.
 'Great Lakes Air 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,
 and said, 'I want to shake your hand.'

 Quickly unfastening my seat belt 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.''

vbmeg

Ok I have tears flowing now! I have a soft spot for our military because my brother is in the military. These men and women truly deserve honor and respect for serving our country.

CincyBride08

Thanks for sharing that great story! I'm trying not to have a complete break down at my desk now!  My brother returns to Iraq on Saturday after coming home on leave for my wedding. It is great to see stories like these ones.

Jscaggs

Way to make a pg girl cry over sack lunches, lol.?

Matilda&Leon

Oh that is very nice and great! 

My cousin died in the Iraq war

becca070707Ken

I love hearing stories like this one. When I was a waitress I had a customer pay for 2 soldiers meal. I felt so honored to wait on these older people who were saying "thank you" to these two men that I paid for their meal. I didn't tell the older couple who paid for their meal, but the older woman had tears in her eyes she was so thankful (they did not look like they had much money). As the soldiers walked out of the restaurant they got a standing ovation from the customers. That brought tears to my eyes (still does just thinking about it). I had tears in my eyes reading this, and like you I get all teary eyed when The National Anthem comes on. I'm proud of our Military men and women. I come from a family of Military men: grandpa's, dad, uncle's, cousin's. My grandpa who is 86 fought in WWII and went to Washington for the first time this past summer to see the wall. He felt so honored b/c the Veterans paid for everything. Not enough people pay tribute to those who fight for our freedom. Tell your BIL "Thank You"!!

addslove

Great story, thanks for posting.  My dad was in the army so I grew up surrounded by these brave men and women.  The sacrifices they make are often overlooked so it's good to hear there are people who recognize how precious our troops are.

LoriZ

My dad sent me that email last week.  Such a great story and I really, really hope it's true.  I used to be an Air Force officer.  When I was flying home from training for Thanksgiving, the woman at check-in bumped me up to first class without telling me.  It was such a nice surprise when I finally looked at my ticket, and I'll never forget it.

hav2run

That is a great story!  It is nice to read about someone doing such a nice thing for someone else without any selfish motive.