WORTH READING (from Howies Wife))
I received this in my email today and felt the need to share it with not only NavyforMoms but also with NavyDads. It is very touching!! It will bring tears to your eyes especially when you think of your own Son or Daughter traveling abroad going into harms way and you as a Father are not there to protect your child. It is nice to know that there are people out there that truly understand the Sacrafice they are making for our freedom! More people in our Country need to understand how important our Military and Veterans are to us!!
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 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,
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.'
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 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,
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.'
Tags: Sack Lunches, United States Navy
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by NavyDads Admin (Paul) on -
Thanks for sharing- if that doesn't cause a tear I don't know what will!
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Permalink Reply by E.G. - ND's Creator/Admin on -
Howie Wow! That was an amazing story. Thank you for sharing it with us. That random act of kindness for our soldiers will never be forgotten by them. I'm glad you reminded our troops that their are people in the world that support and pray for them daily. Like Ive said before you have a big heart. Thank you for not only serving this country yourself but thank you for bringing smiles to those soldiers faces. I'm sure their parents would thank you also.
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Permalink Reply by E.G. - ND's Creator/Admin on
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Cora I just noticed you posted this. Thank you so much for sharing this with us. You have a great husband
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Permalink Reply by Carol on -
Howie, How assume!!!!!! Does a heart good to hear such a great story. I pray more people take your lead and do the same for all service men. Keep spreading our thanks to all of them.... Job well done!!!
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Permalink Reply by Navydads co-admin (Terry) on -
Howie, thank you and your wife for this, I am still crying as I am trying to type this. It does this old heart good when I hear or read things like this. When I was in the Air Force I was told not to travel in uniform in the states and when people found out that I was in the service I was snubbed pushed around and yelled at for being a baby killer. I am so pleased that the American people have seen fit to look at our soldiers differently now and support them regardless of their feeling on the war. Wherever I go no matter what I am doing if I see some of our troops I try to at least go up and thank them for their service, more if I can and the situation will allow. Thank you again for this reminder to continue to support our troops. Of course we raised a couple of those troops haven’t we?
Terry
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Permalink Reply by Craig on -
omg...Howie, this is so good. I have to mention that son Conner called from San Antonio the night he got in and his first comment was that complete strangers were thanking him and shaking his hand. I noticed a certain tone in his voice and asked him how he felt. His comment was he was just startled at first but then realized as he looked at his blues and then had an overwhelming sense of "just being honored enough to wear them". He's doing fine and already has his first posting assigned.
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Permalink Reply by Cindy on -
Cora and Howie that is the sweetest thing I loved it !!! EG made me read when I woke up I still had sleepy in my eyes then tears haha...I wish everyone was like you Howie this world would be a greater place thank you for sharing with all of us Sorry it took so long for me to respond.. THANK YOU!! Cindy (EG's wife)
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Permalink Reply by Kevin on -
Wow, thanks for sharing this great example for those of us who should know better. May the Lord touch those soldiers' lives with His love, through these gracious acts. What a blessing, Kevin
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Permalink Reply by David R on
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Wife recieved this in an email from a co-worker, I reformated it to make it a bit easier to read......................another a tear jerker.
Daddy's Poem
Her hair was up in a pony tail,
her favorite dress tied with a bow.
Today was Daddy's Day at school,
and she couldn't wait to go.
But her mummy tried to tell her,
that she probably should stay home.
Why the kids might not understand,
if she went to school alone.
But she was not afraid; she knew just what to say.
What to tell her classmates of why he wasn't there today.
But still her mother worried, for her to face this day alone.
And that was why once again, she tried to keep her daughter home.
But the little girl went to school eager to tell them all.
About a dad she never sees, a dad who never calls.
There were daddies along the back wall,
for everyone to meet.
Children squirming impatiently,
anxious in their seats
One by one the teacher called a student from the class.
To introduce their daddy, as seconds slowly passed.
At last the teacher called her name, every child turned to stare.
Each of them was searching, for a man who wasn't there.
'Where's her daddy at? 'She heard a boy call out.
'She probably doesn't have one,' another student dared to shout.
And from somewhere near the back, she heard a daddy say,
'Looks like another deadbeat dad, too busy to waste his day.'
The words did not offend her, as she smiled up at her Mum.
And looked back at her teacher, who told her to go on.
And with hands behind her back, slowly she began to speak.
And out from the mouth of a child, came words incredibly unique.
'My Daddy couldn't be here, because he lives so far away.
But I know he wishes he could be, since this is such a special day.
And though you cannot meet him, I wanted you to know.
All about my daddy, and how much he loves me so.
He loved to tell me stories, he taught me to ride my bike.
He surprised me with pink roses, and taught me to fly a kite.
We used to share fudge sundaes, and ice cream in a cone.
And though you cannot see him. I'm not standing here alone.
'Cause my daddy's always with me, even though we are apart
I know because he told me, he'll forever be in my heart'
With that, her little hand reached up, and lay across her chest.
Feeling her own heartbeat, beneath her favorite dress.
And from somewhere in the crowd of dads, her mother stood in tears.
Proudly watching her daughter, who was wise beyond her years.
For she stood up for the love of a man not in her life.
Doing what was best for her, doing what was right.
And when she dropped her hand back down, staring straight into the crowd.
She finished with a voice so soft, but its message clear and loud.
'I love my daddy very much, he's my shining star..
And if he could, he'd be here, but heaven's just too far.
You see he is a soldier
And died just this past year
When a roadside bomb hit his convoy
and taught brave men to fear.
But sometimes when I close my eyes, it's like he never went away.'
And then she closed her eyes, and saw him there that day.
And to her mother's amazement, she witnessed with surprise.
A room full of daddies and children, all starting to close their eyes.
Who knows what they saw before them, who knows what they felt inside.
Perhaps for merely a second, they saw him at her side.
'I know you're with me Daddy,' to the silence she called out.
And what happened next made believers, of those once filled with doubt.
Not one in that room could explain it, for each of their eyes had been closed.
But there on the desk beside her, was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose.
And a child was blessed, if only for a moment, by the love of her shining star.
And given the gift of believing, that heaven is never too far.
Send this to the people you'll never forget and remember to send it also to the person that sent
it to you. It's a short message to let them know that you'll never forget them.
If you don't send it to anyone, it means you're in a hurry and that you've forgotten your
friends.
Take the time...to live and love.
Until eternity. God bless!
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Permalink Reply by Nicole on -
Thank you so much for that, that was a truly beautiful story, I had to run to the bathroom because I was crying so hard. THANK YOU TO ALL THE SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED AND WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE THIS GREAT COUNTRY. Remember to pay it forward to all the service men and women. God Bless!
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