The Sack Lunches

Today a very young man/kid came in and he looked younger than Stephen but he was fresh out of HS as of May. He was a sweethearted kid.He was funny when we did the heart cerimony and really respectful. I asked who the bear was for and he said a present for his mom. I said that was sweet and was like awh...He then told me he was leaving tom. to serve in the Army and then my eyes weld up with tears. So young. I thanked him for his service and said I would keep him in my toughts. He said thank you for such a fun way to make his mother a present that she could have while he is away. I told him to hold her tight and give her a hug that she'll never forget. He said that he has been all weekend long. And there flowed more tears. I tought of my own boys and could not even imagine what that mom is going through right now with her "baby" off to fight for ALL OF US. You just got to love the commitment and dedication these men and women give to serve our Country. When he was making his BC he asked me to put HIS b-day on the BC so it could represent him. To think this boy was born in 1989 the year I was graduatin Pope John HS. To think from then till now the changes are so .....I am at a loss for words. God Bless that boy and all the others out there.

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This may not even be a true story...Let us hope it is. My heart was touched by it and I had to share. As we honor our Vets and the people who have much courage to serve our United States of America we go into the future with hope that they will ALL return safe and sound. God Bless you all and your families.




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.'