just pirated this stirring item from the 135th's e-mail ring-

***
I'm not sure of the author of this, but wanted to share it:

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 lookat

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.

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.

This is the kind of story that makes America and her people so great.

GOD BLESS AMERICA!
****

Respectfully,
Lumpy