Christmas and the Military...Paying it forward

I joined this website. Flylady.com. It is a website dedicated to helping women become better homemakers, i.e. organization and cleaning. It is an understatement I need help in this area since I had a baby and starting working again. Anyway, they send daily emails of encouragement. I received the following in my inbox from the main "FLYLADY" about her flight home on Christmas Eve and what happened. I totally cried. You have to read this. Here goes...

Dear Flycrew,

Yesterday (Christmas Eve) my family flew home from Orlando to Baltimore after a fabulous cruise on the Mariner of the Seas. We flew on Delta from Orlando to Atlanta and Atlanta to BWI.

We saw a few soldiers in uniform in Orlando but when we got to Atlanta we began to see many more. Our flight to BWI was called and we boarded the plane. So did 7 or 8 soldiers - several men (Army, Air Force, Navy), one female, one in civilian clothes but with his desert camo backpack.

After everyone settled, I saw the First Class flight attendant go to the female soldier and say "Welcome Home! Merry Christmas!" With that, the soldier picked up her pack and moved into First Class. The attendant visited the rest of the soldiers with the same invitation. The other passengers started to applaud and cheer as the soldiers made their way up front. The flight attendant got on the PA and announced that Delta was proud to have the brave soldiers onboard, that they were home on Christmas furlough, and whenever possible, they liked to treat the soldiers to First Class. Everyone was cheering. The attendant didn't realize that one of the soldiers was in civilian clothes until another soldier told her. She paged him to the front to much applause and cheering.

Once the soldiers were in First Class, they realized that they didn't have a seat for one of the soldiers. One of the First Class passengers immediately stood up and insisted that the soldier have his seat. The passenger happily moved back to Coach. It was a real purple puddle experience. Once my dh, ds, and I settled into our seats, I pulled out my knitting. I was finishing a turquoise boa scarf. I had intended to give it to a friend. I immediately changed my mind. I finished it quickly, tied it into a big bow and then asked one of the flight attendants to give it to the female soldier anonymously with ChristmasWishes and Thanks. The flight attendant treated the scarf as if it were a precious artifact and headed off to the soldier. I felt wonderful and settled into my book.

As we were walking through the concourse to Baggage, my son spied the soldier walking next to us, clutching the scarf. He told her that his mom had made it. Well, we struck up a conversation as we walked. She was very touched. She admitted that she had no civilian clothes with her except the scarf and that it was her favorite color. I was walking but was getting quite emotional (very puddleish). She was just so beautiful, young, and courageous. Her name is Amy. She goes back to Irag in 17 days.

I let her use my cell to call her sister who was picking her up. Then all of our bags arrived and everyone headed off into the Christmas Eve nighttime. It was an experience my family will remember for years.

Thanks again to all of our brave Military soldiers and families!

A Virginia Flybaby