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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 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 a 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.

11/7/2012 10:26:12 AM

[email protected]

'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 be part 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 side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand and said, 'I want to shake your hand.' Quickly unfastening my seatbelt I stood and took theCaptain'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!

11/7/2012 10:26:41 AM

[email protected]

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 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 'citizens of Canada '
for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'
That is Honour, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.'

11/7/2012 10:26:48 AM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

Great Post, thanks Eddy.

11/7/2012 10:52:51 AM

Nova Scotia

Touching and timely Eddy, Lest we forget the ultimate sacrifices our veterans make for our freedoms and safety

11/7/2012 12:36:03 PM

[email protected]

It does touch the inner soul for sure.
It says Canada, but I think we all know it's meant for anyone and everyone.

11/7/2012 1:09:55 PM

Colorado

very nice-eddy

11/7/2012 1:21:45 PM

Rhode Island

wow--- that was truely a fantastic read eddie. coming from you i certainly would not question anything.a heart of gold for sure.

anyone that does not know you has missed out on knowing a fantastic ,successful businessman.one who enjoys helping others.

the world needs more people with your outlook on things.
another reason what last year you were the first recipient of the annual "ORANGE ANGELS FOUNDATION - SPONSOR OF THE YEAR"

thanks again eddy z

pap

11/7/2012 4:12:31 PM

Sharon, MA

God, Eddy that story brings a tear to my eyes. You are a good man!

11/7/2012 4:20:43 PM

Topsfield,ma.

Eddy Thanks for all you do!

11/7/2012 4:46:07 PM

Eganville, Ontario

Nice Story.

I'm about 20 miles from Petawawa and had seen the large number of US troops training with the Canadians a short while ago.

11/7/2012 5:17:08 PM

The bottom of New Jersey

Eddy, you are the man! I hope to get to meet you someday.

11/7/2012 5:18:33 PM

Middleton, WI

I enjoyed your post. Giving can be contagious.

11/7/2012 5:19:00 PM

Omaha, Ne.

Great words. Thanks for sharing.

11/7/2012 5:21:15 PM

Massachusetts

was a great read, thanks.....!!!!!!!!!!!!

11/7/2012 5:30:01 PM

North Smithfield, RI

Excellent Post Eddy ! Our veterens from both Countries deserve much thanks and mucho respect .

11/7/2012 5:59:37 PM

Minnesota

Its true, I was in Iraq last year, many airports will aplaud you as you walk by, the captain on our plane made a anouncement that there were some soldiers on board, the whole plane started clapping and thanking us, I will remember it for the rest of my life!

11/7/2012 7:06:55 PM

Annapolis Valley Nova Scotia

Great POST ! Eddy, what a heart you have.

11/7/2012 7:11:54 PM

Belmont, NH

Eddy, THANKYOU, for what you do. You have a heart of gold. the world would be a better place if everyone grew giant pumpkins.

11/7/2012 7:16:29 PM

Connecticut

you are a good man,eddy.

11/7/2012 7:21:07 PM

Cheshire,Ma

outstanding Eddy!!!

11/7/2012 7:37:50 PM

Linden, Mi.,

Yes, "WOW", OUTSTANDING, I say with a tear in my eye! Thanks !

11/7/2012 7:46:37 PM

SE Minnesota

you the man

11/7/2012 8:35:21 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Nicely done Eddy! Your family must be very proud of you!!

11/8/2012 12:35:41 AM

Sophia WV

Very nice Eddy here near home people do the same thing we help when we dont have to help with.It was the way I was raised love thy neighbor as thy self.It bears even more on my mind nowdays with my dad getting very frail and remembering all his teachings as I grew up now my kids and grandkids get to hear his words thru me.It is great to have a heart and use it too.

11/8/2012 8:34:47 AM

Johnston, Iowa

Awesome! Good job man!

11/8/2012 12:14:37 PM

Cologne Brescia Italy

My hat for you!!

11/8/2012 12:44:39 PM

Deerfield, Michigan

Just in time for Veterans Day. Thanks

11/8/2012 5:50:35 PM

East Jordan, MI

Thanks for the story Eddy. I have made 8 deployments to the Middle East in the last 17 years and have witnessed many kind gestures such as those depicted here, including giving the soldiers a better seat, several seats together to lay down, letting them ride in First Class, and one of the best was this last time when I was coming home. The captain announced we had 4 service members on board and asked that everyone stay seated until they deplaned to get them to their loved ones as quickly as possible. To my amazement the ENTIRE plane kept their seat until the service members past by them, they then promptly stood up kind of like a wave and started a round of applause until they were completely off of the plane. It definitely gave me hope that everyone isn't caught up in "It's all about me" trend that we run into every day. May God Bless all of our Veterans and their families.

11/8/2012 7:34:33 PM

Minnesota

That's awesome cntryboy.

11/9/2012 12:54:47 AM

Littleton, Colorado

I know too Eddy, that you didn't do this for our applaud, but you richly deserve our applaud just the same!

11/10/2012 12:06:21 AM

So. Maine

Good timing with Veterans Day this weekend Eddy . I had also had this same story emailed to me 2 or 3 years ago by a friend who had a brother in the Army . I did a snopes.com check on " sack lunches " and although this story was never confirmed it first appeared in publication in 2008 .

GREAT READ NO DOUBT !

11/10/2012 9:19:36 PM

[email protected]

I just read some of these awsome comments,Thank you. BUT I feel some of you think this was my story, It wasn't. I had it sent to me.
Sorry for the confusion, but if in the same situation, I'd do it in a heart beat.

I never was in the military but my son was. He inlisted into the Canadian army 2 months prior to 911. So it did have a personal meaning for me and that's why I shared it

11/11/2012 12:39:22 PM

Belmont, NH

I stand by my comments to you Eddy and I also want to thank the individuals involved in the original story.

11/11/2012 4:34:18 PM

morristown, Tn email [email protected]

you made me cry god bless you love fred whitacre jr fellow pumpkin grower

11/17/2012 4:15:10 PM