afrotc-l: Fw: A Touching True Story

This email is from Andy Nelson, an employee with Doster Construction in
Montgomery. It is very good!

I want to tell you of an experience I had last night flying home from
Atlanta.

The pilot came on the intercom and went through the usual announcements
telling us that "we're just east of Montgomery cruising at 28,000 feet"
and "you've picked a beautiful night for flying, just look at the
gorgeous southern sunset out of the right side of the plane". He then,
however, said
this: "Please bear with me as I deviate from the script,
but I want you all to know that simply by coincidence you have been
granted both the privilege and honor of escorting the body of Army PFC
Howard Johnson, Jr. home tonight. PFC Johnson was killed in Iraq
defending the freedoms we all enjoy, and fighting to extend those
freedoms to the people of Iraq. We are also accompanied by PFC Johnson's
cousin, Marine Major Talley, who has been chosen by the family to escort
PFC Johnson home. Semper Fi!"

The plane quickly became very quiet, but soon erupted in thunderous
applause that lasted for several minutes. It was quite moving, to say
the least. As I sat there thinking about what the pilot had said, and
visualizing PFC Johnson's dead body riding below me in the belly of that
plane, I noticed a couple of things. Two rows in front of me sat a
father holding his daughter, an infant, and they were practicing "ma-ma"
and in the row behind me was another young boy, probably 2 or so,
learning to count to 10. Now obviously both are too young to realize
we're at war, or that one of our dead was with us, but it made me think,
and this is the
point: These warriors, mostly young, all volunteers, everyday are
prepared to give their lives for our future, for a safer, more secure
future for people they don't even know, all based on the principle that
fighting and dying for this country is worth it. You all know and agree
with this, but not everyone does, so I would ask that if you meet anyone
that's not "on board" with this philosophy, i.e. the protesters to which
Bob refers, that you "correct the situation".

By the way, the flight ended with all of us deplaning only to line the
windows of the gate house to watch PFC Johnson's body, draped in the
American flag, be rolled out of the plane and into a waiting hearse that
was surrounded by his family members.

Please pray that our soldiers' sight is acute, their aim is true, and
that as many come home as God can spare.

Andy Nelson
746 Adams Avenue
Montgomery, Alabama 36104

Phone 334-834-3767
Fax 334-265-3804