It is easy to lose sight of the important things in life, especially in times of economic turmoil and uncertainty.  All too often I find myself consumed with my own fate or condition and I fail to put things in the right perspective.  There are moments however, when all of that is brought into stark clarity and I shake my head with chagrin, acknowledging how petty and self-absorbed I can be.  Today was one of those days…

It started with being reminded by my wife that her cousin was waking up to his first day of R&R back in the United States having just returned from Iraq where he has been posted as an MP for the past 6 months.  As joyful as that may seem, there is the sadness that his return departure date is already set - this is just a respite from the war.  My heart was heavy for him.

Then, as I sat in my office on a conference call a good friend of mine stuck his head in the door to tell me that his Army Reserve unit (which I had served with for 4 years) had just been called back up to return to Iraq - this would be their second tour.  He is a father of 4 with his 5th child on the way.  I could tell his heart was grieved, but there was determination and acceptance in his eyes.  My heart was heavy for him. 

And if that weren’t enough, my business partner Dan emailed me this story sent to him by Sal Molinare (www.salmolinare.com).  There are so many lives affected by the war, yet it is so easy to lose sight of that fact.  There are men and women - many of them young and full life - that are serving with honor, dignity and pride.  They don’t ask for much in return because they serve out of duty and love of country rather than for money and fame.  What they deserve though, is our gratitude, support and love.  My heart is heavy for them.

I’m thankful for these moments that bring me back to the right perspective…thank you to all who serve!

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The 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, an d 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 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. ‘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 the Captain’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!
 
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 “The United States of America” for an amount of up to and including my life.  That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.