[F16 1UB]

I received the "Sack Lunches" story below from my niece. But first, on a flight last month that I was on, the stewardess announced that we have 2 special guests on board. The plane roared with applause. Please thank the folks in uniform when you can. Speaking from experience, they do appreciate it.

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, 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 o ut
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.

[l2ridehd]

Great story and one we should all do the same if we have the opportunity. Our children in the military give so much to protect our freedom and our right to live the life we do.

[KathieI]

Thanks 16, We should all remember, Our Troops!!

[mfp509]

What a beautiful story. As I posted once before, go to www.anysoldier.com - click on where to send and read the emails. Request an address and send an Easter card with a note - they will love it. I am corresponding with a unit in Iraq. I've sent them "care packages" - they surprised me last week with a beautiful teddy bear, a card signed by all, and a picture of them all. I just sent them 2 more "care packages" for Easter. One of the soldiers is coming home to Texas for 2 weeks R & R - in fact, she was to leave today. It will take her 3 - 5 days to get to the states. Then she will have to return to Iraq for a few more months. I love our troops!

[katezbox]

F16,

A true story...

A couple of years ago I was on a flight from Charlotte to Hartford. At that tine I traveled extensively, so almost always got an upgrade. This flight was no exception. The amazing thing was, that USAir had not yet updated it to their newer configuration that has fewer seats in first. This aircraft had 26 seats in First Class. There were about 5 of us sitting in them.

We watched as a group of around 20 soldiers made their way to the main cabin. A couple of us got the same idea and went to cajole the flight attendants into giving our seats to these soldiers - who we learned were on leave from Iraq.

It took some persuasion, but they finally agreed. We all got up to move to the back - but the soldiers were having none of it. One said to me, "Ma'am, I can't take your seat." I decided there was only one way to handle this and said, "Soldier, let's move it. Get up and move to seat 3-F or get down and give me 20." Everyone started laughing and clapping and they went - every last one of them. They ate up the entire supply of snacks in First Class and the flight crew was glad to hand them out.

Across the aisle from me in my new seat, a man was crying. He was in the reserves himself and his son was in Iraq. The thanks he gave me were in no was proportional to the small act kindness.

As we left the plane, the soldiers formed two rows on either side of the gate and saluted us as we left. It is a moment I will never forget.

As other posters have said, we should do all we can.

[Cassie325]

I read this post earlier today while on a lunch break...ofcourse this brought me to tears in thoughts of my brothers....thank you for sharing it...but as blessed as I was when reading it...something amazing has happened...and I believe I was meant to read this today....BECAUSE:

Upon my arrival home tonight...I recieved the following email:

Hi Everyone!

Jimmy and his dog arrived in Spain this morning at 5 am....next stop is Nova Scotia....then on to Camp Lejeune (home away from home)!

He was very happy to see green grass instead of sand...and to take a real shower!

We will let you know when he finally lands on American soil.

By the way, Michael is on US soil already and is now in Yuma, Arizona for 6 weeks...new job with a different kind of chopper!

That is it from here....exciting news for sure!!!!!

Love, Mom