The Sack Lunches
Posted 28th October 2008 at 03:40 PM by Ronald Schulkin
Just received this story and found it worthy of passing on!
The 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 nearestto me.'Chicago - to Great Lakes Base. We'll be there for two weeks forspecial
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 passthe time.
As I reached for my wallet, I overheard soldier ask his buddy if he plann ed 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 weget to Chicago 'His friend agreed.I looked around at the other soldiers. None were
buying lunch. I walkedto 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 so ldiers were seated. She stopped
at my seat and asked, 'Which do you like best - beefor 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 bepart 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 sideof the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his
hand, an 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 thepassengers.
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 sol diers gathering for their trip to the base. I walked over to
them and handed them seventy-fivedollars. '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.'
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Nice story just the kind I likePosted 28th October 2008 at 04:55 PM by Steve Boren
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