Got this from a daughter! Thanks Sarah!! :) Prepare to get some tissues!
Last week I was in Atlanta, Georgia attending a conference.
>While I was in the airport, returning home, I heard several people behind
>me beginning to clap and cheer. I immediately turned around and witnessed
>one of the greatest acts of patriotism I have ever seen.
>
>? ? ? ? ? ?? Moving thru the terminal was a group of soldiers in their
>camos.? As they began heading to their gate, everyone (well almost
>everyone) was abruptly to their feet with their hands waving and cheering.
>
>? ? ? ? ? ?? When I saw the soldiers, probably 30-40 of them, being
>applauded and cheered for, it hit me. I'm not alone. I'm not the only
>red-blooded American who still loves this country and supports our troops
>and their families.
>
>? ? ? ? ? ?? Of course I immediately stopped and began clapping for these
>young unsung heroes who are putting their lives on the line everyday for us
>so we can go to school, work and home without fear or reprisal.
>
>? ? ? ? ? ?? Just when I thought I could not be more proud of my country or
>of our service men and women, a young girl, not more than 6 or 7 years old,
>ran up to one of the male soldiers. He kneeled down and said "hi."
>
>? ? ? ? ? ?? The little girl then asked him if he would give something to
>her daddy for her.
>
>? ? ? ? ? ?? The young soldier, who didn't look any older than maybe 22
>himself, said he would try and what did she want to give to her daddy. Then
>suddenly the little girl grabbed the neck of this soldier, gave him the
>biggest hug she could muster and then kissed him on the cheek.
>
>? ? ? ? ? ?? The mother of the little girl, who said her daughter's name
>was Courtney, told the young soldier that her husband was a Marine and had
>been in Iraq for 11 months now. As the mom was explaining how much her
>daughter Courtney missed her father, the young soldier began to tear up.
>
>? ? ? ? ? ?? When this temporarily single mom was done explaining her
>situation, all of the soldiers huddled together for a brief second. Then
>one of the other servicemen pulled out a military-looking walkie-talkie.
>They started playing with the device and talking back and forth on it.
>
>? ? ? ? ? ?? After about 10-15 seconds of this, the young soldier walked
>back over to Courtney, bent down and said this to her, "I spoke to your
>daddy and he told me to give this to you." He then hugged this little girl
>that he had just met and gave her a kiss on the cheek. He finished by
>saying "your daddy told me to tell you that he loves you more than anything
>and he is
>? ? ? ? ? ?? coming home very soon."
>
>? ? ? ? ? ?? The mom at this point was crying almost uncontrollably and as
>the young soldier stood to his feet, he saluted Courtney and her mom. I was
>standing no more than 6 feet away from this entire event.
>
>? ? ? ? ? ?? As the soldiers began to leave, heading towards their gate,
>people resumed their applause. As I stood there applauding and looked
>around, there were very few dry eyes, including my own. That young soldier
>in one last act of selflessness, turned around and blew a kiss to Courtney
>with a tear rolling down his cheek.
>
>? ? ? ? ? ?? We need to remember everyday all of our soldiers and their
>families and thank God for them and their sacrifices. At the end of the
>day, it's good to be an American.
