A Thought Behind the Fireworks

What follows is a true story that happened a few weeks ago, on the Memorial Day weekend.  If you already read this last May, on my Facebook page, bear with me.  Since I wasn't blogging then, I didn't put it here, but I think is fits this holiday weekend as well...Happy 4TH of July!

So, I'm at the airport, waiting for my flight, when about 50 soldiers, in their Army fatigues, arrived at our gate. It seems we are all flying to Pittsburgh. It's Memorial Day weekend, and I'm feeling humbled by and grateful to these people who help give the holiday its meaning.

I wanted to do something--and I remembered that I had a handful of drink coupons that I earned with my flight credits. It wasn't much, but I dug them out and gave them to the seven closest soldiers, telling them I wanted to buy them a drink on the flight. They expressed their thanks and I sat down, waiting my turn to board.

When the time came, the gate attendant announced that, if it was okay with everyone else, the soldiers would be boarding first. We all thought that was as it should be...

A little later, when I got to my seat and settled in, I had this feeling like there was more I could do. So, I pulled the drink menu out of the seat pocket, did the math--took a deep breath, and wrote the following on a scrap of paper, which I handed to a flight attendant: "I would like, if possible, to buy all the soldiers on this flight a drink. Please let me know."

I didn't want to say it out loud, because I didn't want to make a big deal out of it.

The attendant read the note, smiled at me and said, "Thank you, but that won't be necessary--we already do that."

To which I added, "I'm glad to hear that."

When we landed, the pilot announced that there were a couple of things he had to say...First he wanted us all to show our appreciation for the service men and women on the flight. After sincere applause, he said that when we arrived at the gate everyone should remain seated until all the military personnel deplaned. Like others, I turned to watch the soldiers as they passed my seat.

It wasn't that much, really, but the series of events put a human face--actually, several faces, on a holiday that from now on will be that much more significant to me.