NL-Outsidethebox [confederation]

I received this the other day and thought it worthy of a blog.

Best Email of The Year

I sat in my seat of the Boeing 767 waiting foreveryone to hurry and stow their carry-ons and grab

a seat so we could start what I was sure to be a long, uneventful flight home.With the huge

capacity and slow moving people taking their time to stuff luggage far too big forthe overhead and

never paying much attention to holding up the growing line behind them, I simply shook my head

knowing that this flight was not starting out very well. I was anxious to get home to see my loved

ones so I was focused on my issues and just felt like standing up and yelling for some of these

clowns to get their act together. I knew I couldn't say a word so I just thumbed thru the "Sky Mall"

magazine from the seat pocket in front of me. You know it's really getting rough when ! you

resort to the over priced, useless sky mall crap to break the monotony. With everyone finally

seated, we just sat there with the cabin door open and no one in any hurry to get us going

although we were well past the scheduled take off time. No wonder the airline industry is in trouble

I told myself. Just then, the attendant came on the intercom to inform us all that we were being

delayed. The entire plane let out a collective groan.she resumed speaking to say "We are holding

the aircraft for some very special people who are on their way to the plane and the delay shouldn't

be more than 5 minutes. The! word came after waiting six times as long as we were promised that

I was finally going to be on my way home. Why the hoopla over "these" folks? I was expecting

some celebrity or sport figure to be the reason for the hold up .. Just get their butts in a seat and

let's hit the gas I thought.The attendant came back on the speaker to announce in a loud and

excited voice that we were being joined by several Canadian Soldiers returning home from

Afghanistan !!! 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

Soldiers 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 silentlyabout "me" and "my" issues I took for granted

the everyday freedoms I enjoy and the conveniences of the Canadian 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 soldier stepped off and we a ll rose to go about our too often taken for granted everyday

freedoms. I felt proud of them. I felt it an honour 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. GOD BLESS CANADA! WELCOME HOME! AND THANKS FOR A JOB WELL DONE!!!!!

This is a ribbon for soldiers fighting in Afaganstan.
Pass it on to everyone and pray.

Something good will happen to you tonight at 9:11
PM.
This is not a joke . Someone will either call
you or will talk to you online and say that they love
you.

Do not break this chain. Send this to as manypeople
as
you

can in the next 15 minutes.

GO

So why is it Soldiers returning home to NL from across Canada can't claim the cost of the Marine Atlantic Toll Ferry crossing in their LTA Leave Travel Allowance?