Heart warming story
marc
3,126 Posts
Here is a heart warming story from Tyson, my son in the marines: It really got to me - did not know if it was a forum type topic but just wanted to share.
> I sat in my seat of the Boeing 767 waiting for everyone to hurry and I sat
> in my seat of the Boeing 767 waiting for everyone to hurry and stow their
> carry-ons and grab a seat so we could start what I was sure to be a long ,
> uneventful flight home. With the huge capacity and slow moving people
> taking
> their time to stuff luggage far too big for the overhead and never paying
> much attention to holding up the growing line behind them, I simply shook
> my
> head knowing that this flight was not starting out very well. I was
anxious
> to get home to see my loved ones so I was focused on "my" issues and just
> felt like standing up and yelling for some of these clowns to get their
act
> together. I knew I couldn't say a word so I just thumbed thru the "Sky
> Mall"
> magazine from the seat pocket in front of me. You know it's really getting
> rough when you resort to the over priced, useless sky mall crap to break
> the
> monotony. With everyone finally seated, we just sat there with the cabin
> door open and no one in any hurry to get us going although we were well
> past
> the scheduled take off time. No wonder the airline industry is in trouble
I
> told myself. Just then, the attendant came on the intercom to inform us
all
> that we were being delayed. The entire plane let out a collective groan.
> She
> resumed speaking to say "We are holding the aircraft for some very special
> people who are on their way to the plane and the delay shouldn't be more
> than 5 minutes. The word came after waiting six times as long as we were
> promised that "I" was finally going to be on my way home. Why the hoopla
> over "these" folks? I was expecting some celebrity or sport figure to be
> the
> reason for the hold up.........Just get their butts in a seat and lets hit
> the gas I thought. The attendant came back on the speaker to announce in a
> loud and excited voice that we were being joined by several U. S. Marines
> returning home from Iraq!!! Just as they walked on board, the entire plane
> erupted into applause. The men were a bit taken by surprise by the 340
> people cheering for them as they searched for their seats. They were
having
> their hands shook and touched by almost everyone who was within an arm's
> distance of them as they passed down the aisle. One elderly woman kissed
> the
> hand of one of the Marines as he passed by her. The applause, whistles and
> cheering didn't stop for a long time. When we were finally airborne, "I"
> was
> not the only civilian checking his conscience as to the delays in "me"
> getting home, finding my easy chair, a cold beverage and the remote in my
> hand. These men had done for all of us and I had been complaining silently
> about "me" and "my" issues. I took for granted the everyday freedoms I
> enjoy
> and the conveniences of the American way of life I took for granted others
> paid the price for my ability to moan and complain about a few minutes
> delay
> to "me" those Heroes going home to their loved ones. I attempted to get my
> selfish outlook back in order and minutes before we landed I suggested to
> the attendant that she announce over the speaker a request for everyone to
> remain in their seats until our hero's were allowed to gather their things
> and be first off the plane. The cheers and applause continued until the
> last
> Marine stepped off and we all rose to go about our too often taken for
> granted everyday freedoms......... I felt proud of them. I felt it an
honor
> and a privilege to be among the first to welcome them home and say Thank
> You
> for a job well done. I vowed that I will never forget that flight nor the
> lesson learned. I can't say it enough, THANK YOU to those Veterans and
> active servicemen and women who may read this and a prayer for those who
> cannot because they are no longer with us. GOD BLESS AMERICA! WELCOME
HOME!
> AND THANKS FOR A JOB WELL DONE !!!!!
> I sat in my seat of the Boeing 767 waiting for everyone to hurry and I sat
> in my seat of the Boeing 767 waiting for everyone to hurry and stow their
> carry-ons and grab a seat so we could start what I was sure to be a long ,
> uneventful flight home. With the huge capacity and slow moving people
> taking
> their time to stuff luggage far too big for the overhead and never paying
> much attention to holding up the growing line behind them, I simply shook
> my
> head knowing that this flight was not starting out very well. I was
anxious
> to get home to see my loved ones so I was focused on "my" issues and just
> felt like standing up and yelling for some of these clowns to get their
act
> together. I knew I couldn't say a word so I just thumbed thru the "Sky
> Mall"
> magazine from the seat pocket in front of me. You know it's really getting
> rough when you resort to the over priced, useless sky mall crap to break
> the
> monotony. With everyone finally seated, we just sat there with the cabin
> door open and no one in any hurry to get us going although we were well
> past
> the scheduled take off time. No wonder the airline industry is in trouble
I
> told myself. Just then, the attendant came on the intercom to inform us
all
> that we were being delayed. The entire plane let out a collective groan.
> She
> resumed speaking to say "We are holding the aircraft for some very special
> people who are on their way to the plane and the delay shouldn't be more
> than 5 minutes. The word came after waiting six times as long as we were
> promised that "I" was finally going to be on my way home. Why the hoopla
> over "these" folks? I was expecting some celebrity or sport figure to be
> the
> reason for the hold up.........Just get their butts in a seat and lets hit
> the gas I thought. The attendant came back on the speaker to announce in a
> loud and excited voice that we were being joined by several U. S. Marines
> returning home from Iraq!!! Just as they walked on board, the entire plane
> erupted into applause. The men were a bit taken by surprise by the 340
> people cheering for them as they searched for their seats. They were
having
> their hands shook and touched by almost everyone who was within an arm's
> distance of them as they passed down the aisle. One elderly woman kissed
> the
> hand of one of the Marines as he passed by her. The applause, whistles and
> cheering didn't stop for a long time. When we were finally airborne, "I"
> was
> not the only civilian checking his conscience as to the delays in "me"
> getting home, finding my easy chair, a cold beverage and the remote in my
> hand. These men had done for all of us and I had been complaining silently
> about "me" and "my" issues. I took for granted the everyday freedoms I
> enjoy
> and the conveniences of the American way of life I took for granted others
> paid the price for my ability to moan and complain about a few minutes
> delay
> to "me" those Heroes going home to their loved ones. I attempted to get my
> selfish outlook back in order and minutes before we landed I suggested to
> the attendant that she announce over the speaker a request for everyone to
> remain in their seats until our hero's were allowed to gather their things
> and be first off the plane. The cheers and applause continued until the
> last
> Marine stepped off and we all rose to go about our too often taken for
> granted everyday freedoms......... I felt proud of them. I felt it an
honor
> and a privilege to be among the first to welcome them home and say Thank
> You
> for a job well done. I vowed that I will never forget that flight nor the
> lesson learned. I can't say it enough, THANK YOU to those Veterans and
> active servicemen and women who may read this and a prayer for those who
> cannot because they are no longer with us. GOD BLESS AMERICA! WELCOME
HOME!
> AND THANKS FOR A JOB WELL DONE !!!!!
Comments
[url]http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/comehome.asp[/url]
[font color="indigo"][i]Blame James for putting the idea in my head.
[b]And no one had to show me.[b]