The Sack Lunches
March 18, 2009 by Nicki Faulk
This was posted to Wingtip 2 Wingtip yesterday. Snopes has it listed as “undetermined” as to whether it’s a true story or not. However, I think that this story’s larger message about showing appreciation for members of the armed forces is a good one.
Feel free to copy and share! 
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 and 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 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. 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 with 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 Aircraft Pilot 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, 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 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 co uple of meals. It seemed so little.
A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to his country for an amount of ‘up to and including my life.’
That is Honor, and there are way too many people who no longer understand it.
Bama Guard unit home from Iraq soon!
March 17, 2009 by Nicki Faulk
Some great news published in The Birmingham News yesterday, the 128th Medical Company is due to come home near the end of this month. Based out of Ashland, the unit’s mission was mainly transporting hurt and wounded troops to combat support hospitals.
Read the whole article here.
Army specialist gets to know Iraqi people
March 16, 2009 by Nicki Faulk
The Clanton Advertiser has a great article this morning about Army Specialist Justin Corn, of Thorsby, who recently returned from Iraq.
Corn believes the U.S. is making a difference in Iraq. In the time he was deployed to Iraq, he saw a big difference in the people from when he arrived to when he left.
A great story, and a poignant reminder of why it’s so important that we support our men and women in uniform!
Because he was in a remote location of Iraq, Corn and his unit didn’t have much contact with family and friends. “Whenever we got to a base, everyone would run to the phone to get their five minutes to call our families,” Corn said.
During his tour, his family and his wife both sent him numerous care packages, which included personal items and snack foods.
“You don’t know just how much you miss that until you don’t have it anymore,” he said. “Some weren’t as fortunate as I was, so I shared with those who didn’t get any packages.”
You can read the whole article here.
In the news this weekend
March 16, 2009 by Nicki Faulk
Courtesy of the Montgomery Advertiser:
Air Force Airman Andrew Williams has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio. He is the son of James Williams of Prattville.
The airman is a 2008 graduate of Prattville High School.
Congratulations, Airman Williams!
Air National Guard Airman 1st Class LaDarius J. Reed has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio. Reed is the son of Allison Gandy and Terry Essex, both of Montgomery.
The airman graduated in 2008 from Jefferson Davis High School in Montgomery.
Congratulations, AFC Reed!
Air Force Airman Jeremiah L. Hand has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio. He is the son of Tommy and Rose Hand of Pine Level.
The airman is a 2008 graduate of Marbury High School in Pine Level.
Congratulations, Airman Hand!
Air Force Airman Tommy J. Giles has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio. He is the son of Kimberly and Tommy Giles of Deatsville.
The airman is a 2008 graduate of Holtville High School in Deatsville.
Congratulations, Airman Giles!
Coast Guard Seaman Corey S. Campbell recently graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Recruit Training Center in Cape May, N.J. Campbell is the son of Rita W. and Scott E. Campbell of Eclectic.
The seaman is a 2007 graduate of Elmore County High School in Eclectic.
Congratulations, Seaman Campbell!
Coast Guard Seaman Zackery B. Cooley recently graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Recruit Training Center in Cape May, N.J. Cooley is the son of Lisa R. and Vonzie E. Cooley of Montgomery.
Congratulations, Seaman Cooley!
Air National Guard Airman John W. Pitch ford has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio. He is the grandson of Lamar Pitchford of Tallassee.
The airman is a 2007 graduate of Tallassee High School.
Congratulations, Airman Pitch!
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