Sack Lunches

[LuvMyTwins407]

 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,
 and said, 'I want to shake your hand.' Quickly unfastening my seat belt
 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! .'"