All Gave Some, Some Gave All

Our plane landed and taxied to the terminal. All of us passengers were scrambling to get our mobile devices turned on and synced up so we could see what we missed while in flight. So much can happen in those two hours, right?

As we approached the gate, the flight attendant stood up to provide, what I thought were, the standard announcements. I wasn’t really paying attention until she said: 

“We have a fallen soldier on board with us, and so we ask that everyone please remain seated until the Military Officers deplane.”

Everyone on the flight went silent. 

I felt as though someone punched me in the stomach; my iPhone almost fell to the ground as I realized how insignificant those emails and texts were at this moment.

I looked out the window and saw a van with a trailer behind it painted with the American flag and it said: “All Gave Some, Some Gave All.” Those words were so loud in my head as I read them.

I had a clear view out the window of that MD90 and could see the military officers now standing at attention with their hands saluting that fallen soldier in the casket as it was being unloaded from the cargo area of the aircraft. There was an American flag draped over it and I watched as it was transported onto the cart with that powerful quote that is now etched in my memory. 

My heart was breaking; so many thoughts went through my mind. I thought about the family of whoever was in that casket. He or She was someone’s son or daughter, friend, maybe a spouse, possibly a mother or a father, a brother or a sister. I sat there and prayed; I prayed for their loved ones and prayed for our country as tears streamed down my face.

My tears were not only for that courageous soldier and his loved ones but also tears of gratitude to all that sacrifice, allowing us the amazing privilege of freedom.

God Bless to all that give some...and especially to some that give all! And God Bless America!

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