Please Keep This Going, >>>>>it's Important! >>>>> >>>>>Barry Whiteley, British and proud of it! >>>>>Airline 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 from Gatwick. >>>>>'I'm glad I have a good book to read >>>>>Perhaps I will get a short sleep,' I thought. >>>>> >>>>>Just before take-off, a line of British Army Youngsters >>>>>came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, >>>>>totally surrounding me. >>>>>I decided to start a conversation. >>>>>'Where are you blokes headed?' I asked the >>>>>Young man seated nearest to me. >>>>> >>>>>Cyprus . 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 >>>>>lunches were available for five pounds. >>>>>It would be several >>>>>hours before we reached Cyprus , >>>>>and I quickly decided a lunch would >>>>>help pass the time.. >>>>> >>>>>As I reached for my wallet, >>>>>I overheard a soldier ask his mate if >>>>>he planned to buy lunch. >>>>>'No, that seems like a lot of money for >>>>>just an airline lunch. >>>>>Probably wouldn't be worth five Quid. >>>>>I'll wait till we get to Cyprus .... >>>>>His mate 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 Pound note. >>>>>'Take a lunch to all those soldiers..' >>>>>She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. >>>>>Her eyes wet with tears, >>>>>she thanked me. >>>>>'My young bloke was a soldier in Iraq , >>>>>it's almost like you are doing it for him..' >>>>> >>>>>Picking up ten lunchboxes, >>>>>she headed up the aisle to where the >>>>>boys 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. >>>>>An old bloke stopped me. >>>>>'I saw what you did. >>>>>I want to be part of it. >>>>>Here, take this.' >>>>>He handed me twenty-five >>>>>Pounds.. >>>>>Soon after I returned to my seat, >>>>>I saw the Captain coming >>>>>down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he wasn't 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 seat-belt I stood and took the Captain's hand. >>>>>With a booming voice he said, 'I was an army pilot a long time back. >>>>>Once someone bought me 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 kid who looked about 18 was sitting about >>>>>six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. >>>>>He left another twenty-five Pounds >>>>>In my palm. >>>>> >>>>>When we landed I gathered my belongings and started to depart. >>>>>Waiting just inside the aeroplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. >>>>>Another twenty-five Pounds! >>>>> >>>>>Upon entering the terminal, >>>>>I saw the soldiers gathering for their >>>>>Trip up to their training area.. >>>>>I walked over to them and handed >>>>>them seventy-five Pounds. >>>>>'It will take you some time to >>>>>reach your training area. It will be >>>>>about time for a sandwich. >>>>>God Bless You Blokes.' >>>>> >>>>>Ten young blokes left that flight feeling >>>>>the love and respect of their fellow Brits. >>>>>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 British Serviceman is someone who, >>>>>at one point in his life, wrote a blank >>>>>cheque made payable to >>>>>' United Kingdom ' >>>>>for an amount of >>>>>'up to and including my life.' >>>>> >>>>>That is Honour, and there are way >>>>>too many foreigners in this country >>>>>who don't understand it.' >>>>> >>>>>And here in INDIA , the Politicians not only robbing our Citizens >>>>>with Millions and Billions of Dollars >>>>>but are also robbing the DEAD Soldiers who Died for the Country and >>>>>Countrymen , >>>>>“The ADARSH” SCANDAL , is just one known Incident >>>>>Get up with your Mighty strength and DRIVE away the SCOUNDRELS >>>>>with the voting power , >>>>>do not forget to Educate the Poor and Illiterate who are victim to Bribe , >>>>>else one day AMERICA and WEST will repeat IRAQ & LIBYA to our Country . >>>>> >>>>>May you have the strength and >>>>>courage to pass this along to >>>>>everyone on your email mates list.... >>>>> >>>>>I JUST DID! >>>>> >>>>> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> > >
