"MEL GARNER'S FLIGHT HOME"

Hi folks, this is Two Texas PawPaw. Thanks giving holidays are over and we press on to the Christmas season. My story this morning is about an insurance salesman named Mel Garner. Mel had been in New York for a week at a convention his company was holding for all it's employees. He arrived in New York on late Sunday night and spent all week in meetings from 8 to 5 everyday, with material to study at night and be able to answer questions the next day on the material he had studied the night before. On Friday, there was an exam which he had to make a good grade on in order to keep his job with the company he had been with for 15 years. That left no time to see the sights of New York and now it was Friday evening and his flight home left at 7:40 PM. Mel had boarded the plane and taken his seat, looked at his watch, and it was 7:45, which meant the plane was already late for takeoff and Mel was ready to get home. He couldn't wait to get back to Colorado to his wife, his kids, his dog, a cold beer, and relax in his easy chair in front of the TV. After sitting for about 10 minutes, the Captain came on the loud speaker and announced that the flight would be about another 10 minutes late taking off, because some speacil people were on the way to board the plane, and the Airport had been asked to wait for them. This frustrated Mel even more, thinking some Movie Stars, Politicians, or Big Time Sports Stars were about to board the plane and they would surely take their time in doing so. He grabbed the Sky Mall magazine from the back of the seat in front of him, and began to thumb through it, trying to get his mind off of being upset at the plane and crew any more than he already was. After a total of a 40 minute wait, the Stewardess came down the aisle, Mel stopped her and ask what the big deal was. She answered that their guest had just arrived and were boarding now. Mel crammed the magazine back in the seat, tearing it, and displayed his unhappiness at the Stewardess. About that time, from the back door of the plane, the guest the plane had been waiting on, came through the door, and filed down the aisle one by one. There were seven of them and Mel caught sight of them immediately. Seven soldiers, home from Iraq, headed in different destinations.The first was on crutches, his right trouser leg was folded upward from the knee, and from the knee down, there was nothing. This soldier was suffering from the loss of his right leg from the knee down. The next soldier had a bandage around the top of his head, and the part of his head that was showing had no hair on top. The third soldier had a bandage around the top of his head and part of the bandage came downward and covered his left eye. The next soldier had his right arm in a sling. And the next soldier had a cast on his left arm and you could tell at the bottom of the cast was a large cast ball where his hand use to be. The other two soldiers were along to see that these five wounded men got on the plane safely and assisted them in getting seated. Just as they were coming down the aisle, the entire passenger group in the plane stood from their seats and applauded, all but Mel Garner. When Mel suddenly noticed he was the only one not standing and applauding, he sprang to his feet and joined the reat of the passengers in their appreciation applause. Then the Captain announced, we will be taking off now. Mel's frustration and his necessity to get home was suddenly not nearly as important as what these men had faced and will face for the rest of their lives. Mel stopped the Stewardess again and apologized for his previous outburst and demanded to speak to the captain. The Stewardess went to the cockpit and brought the Captain back to Mel's seat, delaying the flight even more. When the Captain arrived at Mel's seat, Mel raised up and whispered in the Captain's ear. The Captain stepped back and said "BE MY GUEST"! Mel walked from his seat to where the soldiers were seated and shook each one's hand and thanked them for what they had sacrificed for our country, returned to his seat, and the plane proceeded with take off. -----The next time you see a group of soldiers, take time from your busy schedule to Thank Them, regardless of how long it delays you. -----This is Two Texas PawPaw, signing off, and, the good Lord willing and the creeks don't rise, I'll be back tomorrow.