Friday, July 1, 2011

Sack Lunches

I don't know who wrote this, but my cousin sent it in an e-mail and it so touched my heart that I felt I should share it with you. I hope it will touch your heart as well.

 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 a 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 mereached 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.'  

Love and Blessings to all our military who serve us unconditionally 365 days a year, as well as those who have served in the past. 
Susan

1 comment:

  1. Susan...this story gave me shivers. Thank you so much for sharing it. I'm going to do the same with my FB friends. Bright blessings to you and yours! Your friend in Christ. Dolores :)

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