Sack Lunches

So I heard this story on the radio the other and had the DJ email it to me and I thought you would all enjoy 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.
>
>
> 'Chicago - to Great Lakes Base. 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 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 Chicago 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.'