Sitting in the Huntsville Airport, I witnessed a scene that probably takes place often in America.
There was a young soldier saying goodbye to his family as he prepared to go through the TSA en route to his next duty assignment in the Middle East.
His wife and young son were there to say goodbye.
Friends were there as well as family to give him a proper send off.
Their job was to be encouraging and even enthusiastic as he left for the perils of war.
His job was to reassure them that he would be back.
“See you again before too long. Hey, no worries. I am going to a place where they serve cocktails with little umbrellas in them!”
I felt guilty and frivolous having my lunch with a glass of merlot before I boarded.
My trip would be home to Oregon. My biggest concern was the weather when I landed.
Thank you ma’am
As luck would have it, he was called back to the check-in counter due to a problem with his luggage.
This was my chance.
In a small airport like Huntsville, there is only one entry to the TSA checkpoints.
I waited and watched.
When he returned sprinting to the TSA line, I stopped him.
“Thank you for your service”, I said.
To my surprise, I felt my eyes fill with tears.
He smiled took my hand and said, “Thank you ma’am. That means a lot to me.”
Come Home Soon
I don’t know his name. That’s OK.
He like so many other soldiers will be in my prayers.
Please come home soon.
Please come home as you went—whole, happy and positive.
Lori Greer in Portland 
Beautiful thoughts…..and a lovely thing to do, I am sure he appreciated every world x
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Good for you, Lori. So many times we think things and don’t say them out loud, especially when it concerns another person. By saying it out loud, you’ve made that person aware of how you feel and have made a difference to him. If you’d kept it to yourself, you would still feel the same, but he would not. It’s a good thing you did. More of us should do that kind of thing.
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Reblogged this on Crazy Pasta Child.
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Amen!
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Beautiful. I have tears in my eyes, too.
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Thank you to all the veterans and currently serving men and women in all branches of service for their sacrifices.
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Great heatwarming tribute Lori! We all have to get back to our deep, respectable roots of love. Lovely share!
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Thanks for sharing this Lori. It makes us all think. How we must make choices to encourage at every opportunity and never forget the sacrifice and lives of others.
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Very strange but I felt tears coming as I read y our post.
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That shows what a kind heart you have. I knew that already about you!
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Every time I see this take place on TV, in the airport, on the news etc. I always get tears in my eyes as well. Even this summer when I took my family to cheer on a group of boys training to deploy for a special operative training mission, I was weepy. They are so selfless, I think that’s what hits me each time.
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Terrific post however , I was wanting to know if you could write a litte more on this topic? I’d be very thankful if you could elaborate a little bit further. Thanks!
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