rec'd today as an e mail.....and it brought a tear to my eye and made me think
Subject: 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 rubbish 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 prayerfor those who cannot because they are no longer with us. GOD BLESS AMERICA! WELCOME HOME! AND THANKS FOR A JOB WELL DONE !!!!!
Subject: 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 rubbish 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 prayerfor those who cannot because they are no longer with us. GOD BLESS AMERICA! WELCOME HOME! AND THANKS FOR A JOB WELL DONE !!!!!
