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Kablewizard · 11-04-2008, 04:26 PM

Recieved from a friend .....

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...

Didnt mean to mis lead, but it did get the point across. When I coppied this the first line did not get copied. Sorry

Kablewizard · 11-04-2008, 04:26 PM

Recieved from a friend .....

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...

Didnt mean to mis lead, but it did get the point across. When I coppied this the first line did not get copied. Sorry

hondo122 · 11-04-2008, 04:39 PM

"You" make me proud to be an American!

DriVer · 11-04-2008, 05:04 PM

Jim,

You're the man! Thanks for sharing and caring.

Proud to be American with a person of your caliber.

Don (W5IT) · 11-04-2008, 05:44 PM

MonacoMama · 11-04-2008, 07:39 PM

I hope many others will follow suit when they fly.

I can tell you that American Airlines had a policy in effect a few years ago. We found out American Airlines would move a uniformed Serviceman up to any first class/business class seat if they had any of those seats available for the flight.

Thank you for your support and all you do with the Patriot Guards when our troops return home.

MM

dmason · 11-05-2008, 12:28 AM

Jim,
Thanks for stepping up and doing what most won't do - show their American patriotism. We need more examples like yours in the times ahead. God Bless. Richard (USN Retired)

Chickadee · 11-05-2008, 02:25 AM

Jim: Thanks so much for your exceptional kindness. You're one of the good ones!!! Our son is about to return from 4th tour in the middle east and is coming home sometime in Dec. after a year in Iraq. (EOD (bomb squad) of all things!!!). We just arrived here in Florida to await his return. It's been a tough year, especially for mom, and it nice to know there are folks like you who really care. Thanks again. Steve & Lynette

small5 · 11-05-2008, 03:34 AM

GOD Bless You!!!

Lynnvt · 11-05-2008, 05:37 AM

Although I know that Jim is a kind and generous person, his post above has been circulating for awhile. If you check Snopes and put sack lunches in the search box you will see the history of this writing. But it sure gives us something to think about...how can we help our soldiers. Thanks Jim for making us think about how we treat our soldiers and each other.

Rich & Zara · 11-09-2008, 05:51 PM

It is indicated that Jim did this kind deed. Did you Jim?

This story has been floating about on the Internet for a good while now. ????

CLICK THIS LINK and check it out in SNOPES

...and more LINKS in GOOGLE

Kablewizard · 11-09-2008, 06:14 PM

No I didn't do it, and did not mean to mislead anyone, I have corrected the intro

MonacoMama · 11-11-2008, 08:04 PM

I hope many will do something similar to let our soldiers know that we still support them. I always make sure I walk up to any soldier I see to let them know I truly appreciate the job they are doing and chosen to do...
...and I would like to say <span class="ev_code_RED">THANK YOU</span> to all of the Veterans we have here.

MM