« Meeeting the Mucky-Mucks| Main | Burke and the Agile 400 »
Saying "Thank You"
I've started a new habit in my weekly flights home: I make sure I tell a soldier "thank you"
It started out simply enough: I was sitting in O'Hare a month ago waiting on a flight that was delayed. Across the aisle from me a young soldier was on his way home.
If you travel by air, you see them everywhere. For the slow-minded, it's the people in the uniforms.
As I sat there, I really wanted to say something, but I didn't know what to say. Start a political conversation? That seemed stupid. Comment about the weather? That was lame.
Finally a lady sitting next to the young man patted him on the knee. "I just wanted to say thank you, young man. We really appreciate what you are doing."
His eyes lit up. I could tell that this was the best moment of his trip home -- except for actually getting there, of course. I remember back to the time I was young jarhead flying from Camp LeJeune, stopping by Charlotte on the way home. Even in the mid-eighties, people would offer to buy me beer or a coke or something. They'd pat me on the back and say "Semper Fi, devil dog!" It was something I remember to this day very fondly.
Today I saw a young Lt. Colonel in the airplane on the way to Charlotte. I thought back to when I was in the service. As we got off the plane, I said, "Are you going home on leave?"
He smiled wanly. "Yes. 15 days of R & R"
I looked him over, pressed fatigues, good neat haircut, bright, sharp eyes.
"I don't know if anybody has told you this, but thank you. Thank you very much."
He was taken aback. I could see he hadn't expected that one. Finally a huge smile lit up his face and he said "You're welcome."
Dear reader, I don't know what your politics are or who you plan on voting for next year. I have no idea what your opinion of the USA is. Heck -- you might not even be a citizen of the United States. Quite frankly I don't care. These kids are out all over the world, on missions for both the United States and the United Nations. They're there because people outside of their control decided it would be a good thing for them to be there, and they believe in duty, honor, and country.
I encourage you to take the time when you fly to say "Thank you"
I could could make a persuasive case why you should, but deep in your heart you should already know its the right thing to do. If you don't, no amount of my persuading is going to make a difference.
Well said. I knew i married you for a good reason!