>This past week I was on a four and a half hour, non-stop flight from Seattle,
>Washington, to Atlanta, Georgia. In all my years of traveling, I have
>learned that each time a plane has the opportunity to stop, there is
>potential for unexpected challenges. Flight delays, weather and airline
>crews can create unanticipated challenges on any trip. Therefore, I always
>try to fly non-stop between my destinations.
>>
>> About an hour into this particular flight, the Captain's voice
>>rang over the intercom. He asked if there was a physician or nurse on the
>>plane. If so, he asked them to identify themselves by ringing the flight
>>attendant call button beside their seat.
>>
>> I listened carefully but
heard no one ring their bell. I immediately began to wonder
what was happening. In a few minutes, the Captain
informed us that there was a medical emergency onboard and asked
again if there was a physician or a nurse who could help.
>>
>> When there was no
response, we were told that we were going to make an emergency stop in
Denver, Colorado.
He apologized but told us that there would be a medical
emergency team waiting to meet us at the gate, and that we
would probably only be delayed by about thirty minutes. Though it
was necessary, we knew we would all be inconvenienced by the extra
stop.
>>
>> About half an hour later,
we landed at Denver International Airport and the medical
crew immediately came on board. However, everything took longer
than had previously been expected. An elderly gentleman, about 85
years old, had suddenly taken ill. It was not clear whether he had
experienced a stroke or a heart attack.
>>
>> Even after the gentleman
was carried off of the plane, we still sat there for quite a while.
The original "short" stop turned into about an hour
and a half. When we finally pushed back from the gate and were in the
air, the pilot apologized profusely for the unavoidable delay.
He said that since the stop had taken longer than expected, those
passengers who needed to make connections
in Atlanta would miss their flights, but would automatically
be booked on the next flight out.
>>
>> You could almost hear the
moans and groans throughout the airplane of everyone who was being
inconvenienced by the unexpected stop. Then the pilot did one of the
classiest things I have personally ever seen or heard anyone do. He
spoke into the intercom and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, I
thought you might be interested in one bit of information. The
elderly gentleman who was taken off the plane was a Marine in World
War II. I am holding in my hand a copy of the Congressional Medal of Honor
that was awarded to him and signed by President Harry Truman in 1945."
The pilot went on to say, "I realize that we have all been
inconvenienced today. However, in light of the fact that this gentleman was
a war hero and was inconvenienced for four years of his life in order that
we might experience the freedoms that we enjoy today, I thought you all
should know that."
>>
>> Immediately, the airplane
was filled with applause. Everyone was cheering and so pleased to know that
the gentleman had been cared for in a way that was fitting and appropriate.
>>
>>
>> As we continued to fly, I
thought to myself, "Isn't that interesting? We were concerned that we
were inconvenienced for a couple of hours, and yet this gentleman's entire
life was interrupted and inconvenienced for over four years while he went
and fought in a war to protect the freedoms and values that we love and
hold dear
>>in this country today."
>>
>> I breathed a prayer for
the gentleman and asked God to bless him for all he had done to help us
understand what freedom is all about.
>>
>> Dont we wish our citizens in this country also have this same type
>>of attitude towards our Soldiers?
>>Since - FREEDOM IS NOT FREE
>>
>>
>
>
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