Gaining Merit on Thanksgiving Day

[Guest msclonly]

I thought you might like to read my post on another board about my flight to ATL

 

It is easy to become involved without ulterior motives.

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Thanksgiving Day, I had a Delta Lunch flight in Coach SAN-ATL.

Prepared for it with a half of a large Turkey wrap from Costco and a brownish banana for lunch in flight.

But gave it an old College try to get upgraded without much assurance, since the DL & CO partnership is not complete and there are some holes in the relationship, regarding upgrades.

 

While waiting at the gate, I noticed a large group of Marines just out of Booth Camp, and dressed in rather casual recreational clothes and one uniformed youngster, who must have been the platoon leader or somebody in charge of the group. I had already experienced their warnth, when 3 or 4 greeted me with an enthusiatic 'Good morning Sir' as we passed on their way out of the Restroom.

 

When the Gate agents arrived, I gave it another try for an upgrade. First was empty. And I succeeded. I was not successful with upgrading any of them, as I have done several times on CO. So I went to a group of the 38 marines, and asked if anyone wanted a Turkey Wrap, since I was upgraded. After a little shuffling, one said he would take it.

So I sat back down, then stood by the Gate desk for boarding, while observing them sitting on the floor leaning against the wall next to me. Just waiting for life to unfold. They turned out A-OK from Camp Pendleton training and were a good bonded group.

 

But I was not comfortable with the one sandwich, even though it was cut into five or six 2 inch pieces individually saran wrapped.

Boarding started and the a Flight Attendent was standing inside the plane door passing out Menus with the Lunch items available for purchase on the flight-Turkey or Roast Beef sandwiches potatoe chips, etc.

Without thinking, I said, "give the guys Lunch and give me the tab. He said "OK" without skipping a beat.

 

Took my FC seat and looked forward to takeoff and Lunch feeling better, that they were being taken care of. The Cabin Crew became energized in making sure, that the boys were being taken care of, as well.

 

Welll, I got a couple of small pieces of Chicken cheese tortilla with canned corn sprinkled over it and a too spicey green salsa for FC Lunch. I had to laugh that the Costco Turkey wrap was much better and would have been good even in FC. Well Lunch finished and eventually the Coach FA came up to First and we talked, as he took a tray of six large braided loaflike sandwiches to give out. I said, if he had an extra I would take one and he decided to take one. So one Turkey wrap turned into 40 sandwiches!

 

When the 'meal' service was finished, the FA came up to FC to settle the tab, while we talked about the 'event'! We both teared up from their gratefulness and appreciation. Trust me it is something MORE, then one would normally experience!

 

While starting descent into ATL, I decided to tidy up in the restroom. After a while, there was a knock on the door, and I figured, that the FA wanted me to be seated and belted in. But on coming out, there were the guys standing in FC to personally thank me. They said, that might be the only turkey they got on Thanksgiving. It still brings tears to my eyes, because it was such a small gesture on my part and their contributions are so great for all of us. Their appreciation is something I will never forget!

 

On deplaning, the guy who got the wrap, said it was 'very GQQD'!

I laughed and said it was better then Lunch in FC!

 

May God Bless them and take care of them!

 

 

 

 

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[FourAces]

Very kind of you.

 

RT

[noviceny]

You are the man, msclonly !!!!! What a great story...seriously I think you just made my week...serious !!

[Guest msclonly]

Still on a nice HIGH!

 

It certainly can be a great Energizer and I am still High!

 

Getting ready for take off this morning to BKK, and hope the High sustains me through LAX and NRT.

 

Wishing everyone a Great Holiday and New Year!

 

:+ :+

[Guest Ruben]

This is the most inspirational story I have read on this site. A wonderful act of kindness and appreciation on your part, and one that reveals all anyone would ever need to know about the man who paid the tab.

 

This sure beats spitting on the Marines or kicking their crutches out from under them as was done not all that long ago.

[seaboy4hire]

What a great story! The men and woman in uniform are top notch in my book and I have always tried to show them the upmost respect when seeing them out and about here in the city or in my travels. They are deffinately heros and should always be shown the respect and honor they deserve whether we are are at peace or war because without them from the past to the present we wouldn't have the many freedoms that we have and often take for granted. Both my grandfathers, my father, my bf and countless friends and cousins have served or are currently serving in the military and they have all been outstanding in their service to this country. In fact right now I have a couple cousins and two friends serving in Iraq and I hope that they all come home safe and sound.

 

Hugs,

Greg

Greg Seattle Wa [email protected]

http://www.male4malescorts.com/reviews/gregseattle.html http://briefcase.yahoo.com/seaboy4hire

[noviceny]

I love msclonly...I just read his story again...Msclonly, you had me at hello...

 

Seriously, I did read your story again and I felt the same kindness towards man that I felt the first time. It reminds me of that "random acts of kindness" thing or the Pay it Forward movie. However, I remember that the kid gets killed so thats not too good of an example.

 

I remember when I did my intership with h.s. kids, we watched the Pay it Forward video and I asked them what they learned from it. One of the seniors stood up and said, " I learned that if you do good, you will be killed for it...just like Jesus." I almost pissed my pants !!!:-) :-)

 

If I had your story, I would have printed it out for them

[Guest msclonly]

You made my day !

 

It was great to read your last couple of posts.

Had the most unsettling trip to BKK after careful planning since April. AmeAilines screwed us starting in SAN where Morning fog cancelled my flight. Then the AA manager got into a snit with United Airline, and a bus left for LAX partially empty, while 12 of us waited for another bus from the same company for an hour! Needless, we arrived as my NW flight took off for Tokyo without me. So I had to overnite and go standby to get the last and worst seats availalble all the way to BKK.

 

But your post has made me feel better all over.