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 tostuff luggage far too big for the overhead and never paying muchattention to holding up the growing line behind them, I simply shook myhead 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.
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]] The entire plane let out a collective groan.
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]] 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.
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]] The word came after waiting six times as long as we were promised that
I was finally going to be on my way home.
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]] Why the hoopla over "these" folks?
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]] I was expecting some celebrity or sport figure to be the reason for
the hold up.
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]] Just get their butts in a seat and let's hit the gas I thought.
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]] 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 !!!
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]] Just as they walked on board, the entire plane erupted into applause.
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]] The men were a bit taken by surprise by the 340 people cheering for
them as they searched for their seats.
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]] 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.
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]] The applause, whistles, and cheering didn't stop for a long time. !
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]] 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.
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]] 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.
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]] I took for granted that others had paid the price for my ability to
moan and complain about a few minutes delay to "me" while those Heroes
were going home to their loved ones.
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]] 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 heroes
were allowed to gather their things and be first off the plane.
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]] 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.
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]] I felt proud of them.
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]] 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 BLESSAMERICA!
WELCOME HOME! AND THANKS FOR A JOB WELL DONE!!!!!
This is a ribbon for soldiers fighting in Iraq .
Pass it on to everyone and pray.
. ↓
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| Name: Stacy | Date: Nov 15th, 2006 4:04 PM |
| Name: Lizzi | Date: Nov 15th, 2006 4:09 PM |
| Oh Serina! What a GREAT story!!!!! Thank-you for posting this! We all need to take a moment out of our day to read what you wrote here! You are so right and so thoughtful as to your suggestion that they be let off first,how thoughtful and considerate of you!!!! You are a very special person Serina and a very smart person too!!! What you have written here just made my day a little more brighter!!! In fact you should send your post to the newspaper,I'm sure they would print it happily because it is so true and beautiful!!!! Than-you again Serina!!!! Those soldiers are Americas TRUE celebrities!!!!! ↑ |
| Name: Lizzi | Date: Nov 15th, 2006 4:12 PM |
| I just had to say WOW!!!!! Serina this is the best post I've ever read and I mean that sincerely!!! :) :) :) :) Thank-you so much for posting it for us!!!!!!! ↑ |
| Name: mspeachpit | Date: Nov 15th, 2006 4:17 PM |
| ur story made me want to cry. my younger sister is married to a guy who was a military sniper and was injured overseas. he had to leave the military due to that injury and they are a couple weeks away from expecting their first child together (her second, his first). ↑ |
| Name: Serina S | Date: Nov 15th, 2006 4:22 PM |
I am sorry the header did not copy Tjis was an email I recd that touched me so I ha to share it with you all. Sorry not me Lizzi. It was pubished in the Yahoo mail.I cannot thake the credit. I do not know why when I copied it the header from Yahoo did not carry over ?
We all do need reminding of what hardship we go throuhgt is nothing comparied to the men & women that serve and ther families. ↑ |
| Name: mspeachpit | Date: Nov 15th, 2006 4:24 PM |
| even if it isnt ur story, ur the one who shared it with us. ↑ |
| Name: Serina S | Date: Nov 15th, 2006 4:24 PM |
Ms Pechpit
I hope he will be alright ! Congrds onthe new baby in your to come in to your family . How lucky that baby will be!!!! ↑ |
| Name: Lizzi | Date: Nov 15th, 2006 4:28 PM |
| That's okay Serina,you are still the one who brought it over for us to read,thank-you for that!!!! :) That was a smart and thoughtful thing to do!!! :):):) I wish this war would end so no more soldiers had to die and they could come home to their families who miss them so! I think there should at least be a truce for november and december so our troops could be home for Thanksgiving and Christmas!!! No such luck there though huh? ↑ |
| Name: mspeachpit | Date: Nov 15th, 2006 4:38 PM |
| he's fine now. it was an injury to his shoulder which is why he had to leave the military. ↑ |
| Name: Serina S | Date: Nov 15th, 2006 6:28 PM |
| They are fighting agains people that would even attach during a truce. SO many peoples of that country are being mistreated.So very sad alot of civilans are kill too. It is a horrid thing war So beyond heart breaking. ↑ |
| Name: Ayame | Date: Nov 15th, 2006 11:20 PM |
| That honestly made me want to cry, because of how much I miss my husband. That's amazing. ↑ |
| Name: marija | Date: Nov 16th, 2006 12:19 AM |
| i hope he comes home safe and sound soon Ayame ↑ |
| Name: Serina S | Date: Nov 16th, 2006 12:39 AM |
| Ayame I am sorry this made you miss him more. I hope the angles watch over him in all he does & protect him from all harm! ↑ |
| Name: spankyx0711 | Date: Nov 16th, 2006 12:41 AM |
This is kinda weird but after I read this my door bell rang and it was the guy selling magazines. I thought oh yay another solicitor. But you have the option of either keeping the magazine subscription(s) for yourself or donating them for the troops. I thought this was awesome.
I don't care how this sounds but I was reading a Hustler magazine a while back and in the editorial section, some troops wrote the magazine saying how their June magazine was missing about 30 pages. So Hustler sent their whole brigade a full years subscription for free.
Lol i was so inspired by the Hustler story that I bought and donated a year's subscription to Penthouse (it was the only naughty magazine option) and Maxim to the troops. ↑ |
| Name: marija | Date: Nov 16th, 2006 12:48 AM |
| and appreciate it I'm sure they will...lol ↑ |
| Name: Serina S | Date: Nov 16th, 2006 1:03 AM |
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