Foxyangel0425
09-14-2003, 01:33 PM
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 to stuff luggage far too big for the
> overhead and
>
> > >never paying much attention to holding up the growing line behind
> them, I
>
> > >simply shook my head 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. The
>
>
> > >entire
>
> > >plane let out a collective groan. 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. The word
>
>
> > >came after waiting six times as long as we were promised that "I" was
>
>
> > >finally going to be on my way home. Why the hoopla over "these"
> folks? I
>
> > >was
>
> > >expecting some celebrity or sport figure to be the reason for the
> hold
>
> > >up.........Just get their butts in a seat and lets hit the gas I
>
> > >thought. 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!!! Just as they walked on board, the entire plane erupted
> into
>
> > >applause. The men were a bit taken by surprise by the 340 people
>
> > >cheering for them as they searched for their seats. 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. The applause, whistles and
>
>
> > >cheering
>
> > >didn't stop for a long time. 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.
>
> > >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
>
> > >enjoyand the conveniences of the American way of life I took for
> granted
>
> > >otherspaid the price for my ability to moan and complain about a few
>
> > >minutes delay
>
> > >to "me" those Heroes going home to their loved ones. 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 hero's were allowed to gather
> their
>
> > >things and be first off the plane. 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......... I felt proud of them. 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 BLESS
>
> > >AMERICA! 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.
>
> > >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 to stuff luggage far too big for the
> overhead and
>
> > >never paying much attention to holding up the growing line behind
> them, I
>
> > >simply shook my head 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. The
>
>
> > >entire
>
> > >plane let out a collective groan. 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. The word
>
>
> > >came after waiting six times as long as we were promised that "I" was
>
>
> > >finally going to be on my way home. Why the hoopla over "these"
> folks? I
>
> > >was
>
> > >expecting some celebrity or sport figure to be the reason for the
> hold
>
> > >up.........Just get their butts in a seat and lets hit the gas I
>
> > >thought. 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!!! Just as they walked on board, the entire plane erupted
> into
>
> > >applause. The men were a bit taken by surprise by the 340 people
>
> > >cheering for them as they searched for their seats. 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. The applause, whistles and
>
>
> > >cheering
>
> > >didn't stop for a long time. 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.
>
> > >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
>
> > >enjoyand the conveniences of the American way of life I took for
> granted
>
> > >otherspaid the price for my ability to moan and complain about a few
>
> > >minutes delay
>
> > >to "me" those Heroes going home to their loved ones. 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 hero's were allowed to gather
> their
>
> > >things and be first off the plane. 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......... I felt proud of them. 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 BLESS
>
> > >AMERICA! 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.