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ORIGINAL: BossyShoeBitch

I got this email today.  I am sure many of you have seen it before.  It always gives me goosebumps...

THE FLIGHT HOME

 Just as they walked on board, the entire plane erupted into applause.

The men were a bit taken by surprise by the 340 people cheering for them as they searched for their seats.
They were having their hands shook and touched by almost everyone who was within an arm's distance of them as they passed down the aisle. One elderly woman kissed the hand of one of the Marines as he passed by her.
The applause, whistles and cheering didn't stop for a long time.

When we were finally airborne, I was not the only civilian checking his conscience as to the delays in "me" getting home, finding my easy chair, a cold beverage and the remote in my hand.

These men had done for all of us and I had been complaining silently about "me" and "my" issues I took for granted the everyday freedoms I enjoy and the conveniences of the American way of life.

I took for granted that others had paid the price for my ability to moan and complain about a few minutes delay to "me" while those Heroes were going home to their loved ones.

I attempted to get my selfish outlook back in order and minutes before we landed, I suggested to the attendant that she announce over the speaker a request for everyone to remain in their seats until our heroes were allowed to gather their things and be first off the plane.
The cheers and applause continued until the last Marine stepped off and we all rose to go about our too often taken for granted everyday freedoms.
I felt proud of them.

I felt it an honor and a privilege to be among the first to welcome them home and say "Thank You for a job well done."

I vowed that I will never forget that flight nor the lesson learned. I can't say it enough, THANK YOU to those Veterans and active servicemen and women who may read this and a prayer for those who cannot because they are no longer with us.

WELCOME HOME! AND THANKS FOR A JOB WELL DONE!!!!!

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ORIGINAL: domiguy

...They are not protecting my freedoms or the American way of life....

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But beyond that I would probably find myself at a loss to come up with anything else to say.

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ORIGINAL: Level

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ORIGINAL: domiguy

...They are not protecting my freedoms or the American way of life....

I'd disagree here, DG. When they step up and put that uniform on, they're defending our freedoms. They never have to fire a weapon to do so.

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ORIGINAL: SDFemDom4cuck

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But beyond that I would probably find myself at a loss to come up with anything else to say.

As the proud mom of a member of the USAF I would suggest a simple and sincere "Thank You". They don't hear it as much as you would imagine. They more than appreciate it when you do, regardless of how much they play it off as nothing.

In fact I could tell you a recent horror story of a "gentleman" that was seated next to my son on a flight  2 weeks ago that asked the flight attendant if he could move seats rather than sit next to a "warmonger".

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ORIGINAL: domiguy

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ORIGINAL: SDFemDom4cuck

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But beyond that I would probably find myself at a loss to come up with anything else to say.

As the proud mom of a member of the USAF I would suggest a simple and sincere "Thank You". They don't hear it as much as you would imagine. They more than appreciate it when you do, regardless of how much they play it off as nothing.

In fact I could tell you a recent horror story of a "gentleman" that was seated next to my son on a flight  2 weeks ago that asked the flight attendant if he could move seats rather than sit next to a "warmonger".

The problem is that many people did enroll to fight after 9-11 strictly on the point of going to war....."I want a chance for revenge...And I'll get to shoot me some of them Ayyrabs."

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I would probably not "thank" your son....I would wish him well and hope that he returns safely....Then I might mention something about tappin' his mom....Then I would buy the kid a beer.

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ORIGINAL: domiguy
The problem is that many people did enroll to fight after 9-11 strictly on the point of going to war....."I want a chance for revenge...And I'll get to shoot me some of them Ayyrabs."

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ORIGINAL: SDFemDom4cuck

They more than appreciate it when you do, regardless of how much they play it off as nothing.

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ORIGINAL: popeye1250

Good story!
Only two people have offered to sacrifice their lives for us, Jesus Christ and Veterans.

I received some bad news on sunday.
A friend of mines sister was killed in Afganistan last thursday.
There is an article about it in the last few days issues of The Boston Herald.
Her name was Ciara (Prounounced "Kee-rah") Durkin.
She was with the 726th Battalian Mass National Guard.
She was born in Ireland and came to the U.S. in 1986.
They don't know the circumstances but she was shot in the head.
She was 29.

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ORIGINAL: domiguy

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ORIGINAL: Level

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ORIGINAL: domiguy

...They are not protecting my freedoms or the American way of life....

I'd disagree here, DG. When they step up and put that uniform on, they're defending our freedoms. They never have to fire a weapon to do so.

Level, I love you like a brother. A slow, Cowboy, Kevin Costner blowing brother, but a brother nonetheless. I got in more fights trying to protect you than I care to recall....Oh yeah, Mom never loved you.  She said she could never bear the thought of breast feeding you....Cuz when you stared at her tits she said the whole thing just creeped her out.  Anywhoooo....

The uniform does not make the man or the woman.....The action does....People's response to the call to arms is varied, some found the military as a court of last resorts, others got roped in by trying to find a career or pay for college...Others got duped under the patriotism of 9-11....And then there are those who find a military career to be a noble and courageous occupation. 

It is unfortunate that our current predicament in Iraq probably has little bearing at all on our freedoms at home....The lives lost there will turn out to be meaningless....There is no nobility or divine purpose in our being there. We as a Country have been misled and  the lives and legs and arms and eyes of our men and women who have chosen to serve have been lost in vain.  It is all such a damn shame.

Our armed services are necessary, how they are to be utilized is ultimately how they as soldiers will be viewed. Not to become redundant, but I wonder if you could ask the Tillman's whether their son died protecting our freedoms... I wonder what their response might be?

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Suzanne said:

I'm sorry Level, but aside from perhaps defending our "freedom" to keep wasting oil like it is in infinite supply, that statement is simple, feelgood, wishful delusion.

These are honorable, brave and well-meaning young men and women, but if they are protecting anything other than Dick Cheney's deferred payments from his Halliburton stocks by being in Iraq, then I am really Queen Elizabeth of Windsor, finding an outlet for her unexplored fetishes here.

Why is it so hard for Americans to realize when they've had their patriotism exploited by a corporate cartel looking to make money off of the blood and taxes of others? I guess it's like when it first dawns on you that your parents are flawed human beings rather than the godlike figures you imagined them to be. Hard, I know, but we all gotta grow up sometime.

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ORIGINAL: Level

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ORIGINAL: popeye1250

Good story!
Only two people have offered to sacrifice their lives for us, Jesus Christ and Veterans.

I received some bad news on sunday.
A friend of mines sister was killed in Afganistan last thursday.
There is an article about it in the last few days issues of The Boston Herald.
Her name was Ciara (Prounounced "Kee-rah") Durkin.
She was with the 726th Battalian Mass National Guard.
She was born in Ireland and came to the U.S. in 1986.
They don't know the circumstances but she was shot in the head.
She was 29.

Popeye, I'm sorry to hear about Ciara.