Sack Lunches

March 1, 2010 11:00 by admin

We received this via email and although it can’t be verified as an actual true story, knowing how most Americans treat our service men and women … it is likely this or something similar has happened. Either way, maybe it will prompt a thought or two in how each of us responds when put in similar situations …

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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.
'Petawawa. We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Afghanistan.'

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 the east, 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 base.'

His friend agreed.

I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch so 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 yours, 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 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 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!

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Tags: hero, soldier, sack lunch, airplane
Categories: General
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He Is My Hero!

February 2, 2010 19:34 by admin

Please allow me a few moments of personal indulgence as I ramble a bit about my personal Hero. His name is Pastor Dan Gates and he is the Pastor at East Highland United Methodist Church. He was born in 1948 in West Virginia and later moved to Georgia where he has spent most of his adult life. He was married at 19 years old and at the age of 21, he found himself fighting for his country in Vietnam where he earned a Purple Heart. He served his country for 12 years in the Army and during that service entered another challenging field of service as a Father of twin boys. (That was probably the toughest challenge of his life!) At 37 years old, his Lord called him into full time service as a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For over two decades, he has served wherever the Lord has led and proudly proclaimed the name of Jesus and the salvation of His name. He has been instrumental in hundreds of salvations and professions of faith in Jesus. And frankly, I've lost track of how many young men have entered the ministry through his guidance.

He loves his family, his nation, and most of all his God. And if there is anyone who stands behind "One Nation Under God", it would be this Patriot!

So why am I telling you all of this??? Well, recently this American Hero and Veteran was diagnosed with Stage 4 Colon Cancer which has spread to several other places in his body. Now he is facing a struggle unlike any he has ever seen before in his many years of service to his country and to his God.

He also happens to be my daddy and although I've probably never told him directly, he is a major inspiration for the idea behind ThankYouSoldier.com. You see, my dad always raised me to not only be thankful for our military, but to appreciate the commitment and sacrifices made by our service men and women. My brother and I were always raised to say "thank you for your service" and for us, it was never just words, it was a deep sense of love for the fact that at a moments notice they would stand between our families and the evil in the world who would seek to harm our nation.

Pray for this Hero ... to this day, he continues to support our military and their families.

And dad ... you are my Hero!

May God bless you and may God bless America!

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Tags: pastor, hero, vietnam, vet, veteran
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Not Just Any American Flag

January 12, 2010 18:57 by admin

On January 12, 2009, ThankYouSoldier.com was pleased to receive a gift from one of our deployed Heroes in Iraq. Below is the text of the certificate that accompanied it. This flag was flown on one of our bases and we are overwhelmed by this sign of gratitude from our soldiers for the work we are doing to support them during their deployment.

Delta Company
2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Battalion

This Certificate Certifies

That this flag was flown on Patrol Base Husayniyah, Karbala, Iraq on the 14th of December 2009
For Presentation To
Jonathan Gates (ThankYouSoldier.com)
For your support of our Soldiers

I am the flag of the United States of America. My name is Old Glory. I fly atop the worlds tallest buildings. I stand watch in America's halls of justice. I fly majestically over institutions of learning. I stand guard with power in the world. Look up and see me. I stand for peace, honor, truth and justice. I stand for freedom. I am confident. I am arrogant. I am proud. When I am flown with my fellow banners, my head is a little higher, my colors a little truer. I bow to no one! I am recognized all over the world. I am worshipped. I am saluted. I am loved. I am revered. I am respected and I am feared. I have fought in every battle of every war for more than 200 years. I was flown at Valley Forge, Gettysburg, Shiloh and Appomattox. I was there on San Juan Hill, the trenches of France, in the Argonne Forest, Anzio, Rome and the beaches of Normandy, Guam. Okinawa, Korea, KheSan, Saigon, Vietnam knows me, I was there. I led my troops, I was dirty, battle-tested and tired, but my soldiers cheered me and I was proud. America has been attacked by cowardly fanatics and many lives have been lost but those who would destroy me cannot win for I am the symbol of freedom. Of one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. I have been burned, torn and trampled on the streets of countries I have helped set free. It does not hurt for I am invincible. I have been soiled upon, burned, torn and trampled on the streets of my country. And when it's by those whom I've served in battle it hurts. But I shall overcome for I am strong. I have slipped the bonds of Earth and stood watch over the uncharted frontiers of space from my vantage point on the moon. I have borne silent witness to all of America's finest hours. But my finest hours are yet to come. When I am torn into stripes and used as bandages for my wounded comrades on the battlefield. When I am flown at half-mast to honor my soldier. Or when I lie in the trembling arms of a grieving parent at the grave of their fallen son or daughter. I am proud. MY NAME IS OLD GLORY, LONG MAY I WAVE.

Signed
John W. Pranz, ISG, AR, First Sergeant
Andrew P. Hubbard, CPT, Armor, Commanding