twintluv99

Thought I would share an email I received yesterday that was very inspiring. With my borther missing my wedding becuase he is serving overseas, it realy makes me feel good to know that there are people out there who really look out for our military family when we can’t be there for them ourselves for whatever reason!!!

The Sack Lunch

 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.

 ”
Chicago- to Great LakesBase. We’ll be there for two weeks for special  training, and then we’re being deployed to
Iraq” 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
Chicago, 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 
Chicago

 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 in ChicagoI 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!

 Soon 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…

Have a great day!!!!!