Happy Rider
Well-known member
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. and 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.'
>
> 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. and 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.'
