I don't know where the following originated, but it's worth a read. BTW, if you're currrently serving in the U.S. military, and if we ever meet, lunch is on me.
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Subject: A Lunch to Remember
A MUST READ - 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. 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 meal . 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 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.
