Being in a military family I think of those who serve and died everyday of the year. I want to share a story of someone who was so kind to my husband upon his return from Iraq.
My husband served in Iraq. The day he returned home we picked him up at Andrews Airforce Base which is about 30 minutes from our home. He served at the beginning of the war at a place where they did not have acess to food and supplies etc the way they do now in Iraq. When we picked him up he wanted to get some lunch from one of his favorite places to eat. Dressed in his BDU's and still smelling like Iraq we took him to eat. In the middle of lunch a man I would guess in his early sixties walked up to my husband and said." I am sorry to intrude on your lunch but I wanted to say welcome home". He shook my husbands hand and said "thank you for serving". He said "I would like to pay for your lunch as a thank you from me and my wife". My husband told him" that was not needed". He would "not feel right accepting when he was just doing the job he was asked to do". He told him" the welcome home meant more to him then he could ever expresss". We went on with our lunch. It was a big celebration his sitser and father and my family had all came to welcome him home. There was probably about 16 of us. Everyone was there except his brother who was still serving in Iraq. My parents and his father decided to take care of the bill. To our surprise the waiter told us the bill was taken care of by the man that my husband had talked to. I was so moved that a stranger would do such a nice thing. My husband wanted to go and thank him but the man and his wife had already left.
I hope this story will remind everyone that we truly owe our vets for the freedoms we enjoy. On this Veteran's Day and every other day remember these men and woman do a job that they are asked to do by our country. If you agree or disagree with the wars our country had been involved with that is your right but please remember to thank a vet. A simple hand shake or thank you means more then you will ever know.
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Comments: 19
I want to wish your husband a Welcome Home, and extend a Thank You to him also, for having served our country. And I commend the stranger for having taken care of the bill. A lovely expression of gratitude. God Bless!!!
Donald was in Vietnam, and my son was in Dessert Storm.
Donalds sister called every year and thanked him for serving. She passed away several years ago and I still kinda listen for the phone to ring. I know it wont. But how many civilians pick up the phone and thank a Veteran.
to my eyes too... my brother served 2 terms in Vietnam...
and by the grace of God, he just
turned 69 y.o. last week... Chris, please thank
your husband for me...
i do appreciate our servicemen and women every day...
God bless you all... Happy Veterans Day...
Pam (SFC Brent A. Adams)
Pam - Every time I read something from you it brings me to tears. I can't even begin to imagine the pain that you must feel over the loss or your son. I have been very fortunate that all the members of my family have returned from their wars. What do you say to a person who has lost a loved one? Thank you for his service somehow just does not seem to be enough.
I wish I could give this article more than a ten!