Sack Lunches

[Mac_Attack]

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 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,
>>> > an 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 ' 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.'
>>> >
>>> > May God give you the strength and courage to pass this
>>> > along to friends on your email buddy list......
>>> > I JUST DID
>>> >

[reelapeelin]

Thanks for postin', Mac...

[shubey61]

[tsubaki]

Good one!
Very good one.

[willy]

thank you Mac, I just sent it out too

[bradford]

Good One!!!!!!!!!