Concern for soldiers

Got this in circulation mail. A must read:


Barry Whiteley, British and proud of it!

Airline Lunch
I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my
assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight from Gatwick. I'm glad
I have a good book to read Perhaps I will get a short sleep,' I
thought.

Just before take-off, a line of British Army Youngsters came down the
aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I
decided to start a conversation. 'Where are you blokes headed?' I
asked the young man seated nearest to me. 'Cyprus. We'll be there for
two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to
Afghanistan.

 .... After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that
lunches were available for five pounds. It would be several hours
before we reached Cyprus, and I quickly decided a lunch would help
pass the time. As I reached for my wallet, I overheard a soldier ask
his mate if he planned to buy lunch. 'No, that seems like a lot of
money for just an airline lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five Quid.
I'll wait till we get to Cyprus'. His mate agreed.

I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I
walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a
fifty Pound note. 'Take a lunch to all those soldiers..' She grabbed
my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me.
'My young bloke was a soldier in Iraq, it's almost like you are doing
it for him..'
Picking up ten lunchboxes, she headed up the aisle to where the boys
were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, 'Which do you like best
- beef or chicken?'

'Chicken,' I replied, wondering why she asked..

She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later
with a dinner plate from first class. This is your thanks.

After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane,
heading for the rest room. An old bloke stopped me. 'I saw what you
did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this.' He handed me
twenty-five Pounds.

Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Captain coming down the
aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he wasn't
looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my
side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out
his hand, and said, 'I want to shake your hand.'

Quickly unfastening my seat-belt I stood and took the Captain's hand.
With a booming voice he said, 'I was an army pilot a long time back.
Once someone bought me lunch. It was an act of kindness I never
forgot.' I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the
passengers.

Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A
kid who looked about 18 was sitting about six rows in front of me
reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another
twenty-five Pounds In my palm.

When we landed I gathered my belongings and started to depart. Waiting
just inside the aeroplane door was a man who stopped me, put something
in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word.
Another twenty-five Pounds!

Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their
Trip up to their training area.. I walked over to them and handed them
seventy-five Pounds. 'It will take you some time to reach your
training area. It will be about time for a sandwich. God Bless You
Blokes.'

Ten young blokes left that flight feeling the love and respect of
their fellow Brits. As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a
prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for
our country. I could only give them a couple of meals. It seemed so
little...

A British/Indian Serviceman is someone who, at one point in his life,
wrote a blank cheque made payable to

'My Country'for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'  That is
Honour, and there are way too many foreigners in this country who
don't understand it

And here in INDIA , the Politicians not only robbing our Citizens with
Millions and Billions of Dollars but are also robbing the DEAD
Soldiers who Died for the Country and Countrymen, “The ADARSH”
SCANDAL, is just one of the known incidents. Get up with your Mighty
strength and DRIVE away the SCOUNDRELS with the voting power, do not
forget to Educate the Poor and Illiterate who are victim to Bribe,
else one day AMERICA and WEST will repeat IRAQ & LIBYA to our Country.

May you have the strength and courage to pass this along 

I JUST DID!