As we approach
Thanksgiving a story I wrote about gratitude and honor that seems appropriate
to share over such a wonderful American holiday:
Meritorious Honor
Allow me to ask you a rhetorical question but before I do…… a couple of caveats. I believe that there are people in our generation and younger that have earned their high place on the ladder. And I sincerely believe that many deserve accolades for their actions and character and I truly wish all deserving (including veterans from any conflict) would experience an outpouring of honor. Yet, as I lay on my pillow after this amazing day, the question on my mind is what follows:
What have you done in your life of extraordinary note?
What thing have you done which would illicit others
showering you with gratefulness? In other words what have you done, if
anything, that would qualify as meritorious? Actions so big or great that would
prompt a police honorary escort for 60 miles? How about actions that motivate
hundreds of volunteers working to make your every moment wonderful? What have
you done that may merit, not one or two, but a total of seven overpasses
occupied with fire trucks in full light array and at full salute as you are
escorted down the interstate? Since living and breathing around airports for
the past 45 years I have witnessed twice what I now ask. What would you have
had to do to call into action the airport’s fire department for the most
honored dual truck water cannon salute as your aircraft taxis underneath?
Further, what would you have accomplished in order to warrant special prime
parking of your bus motorcade at
When you read this next one please pause to consider where it happened! What have you done that would give you an honorary multi police car escort in downtown Washington DC during noon rush-hour, directing your convoy of busses through red lights and around slowed traffic and pausing pedestrians (like only a few in DC ever experience) simply to get an amazing city tour?
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And now on the human side; What would convince people….. many many people, to take time out of their day to greet you in a receiving line that appeared to wrap around the airport with hugging, handshaking and grateful greeters of all ages getting very personal and thanking you over and over again? Beyond that, what have you done that would make countless impromptu random strangers, and random groups of strangers, in public parks interrupt their day and shake your hand telling you what a difference you made and thanking you for it?
Lastly, what could you have possibly done to convince the mighty Amway Corporation to give you carte blanche use of their prized private airplane hangar and then arrange a welcoming reception with literally hundreds of invitees being topped off by flying a vintage B17 bomber to that same hangar for a static display…… all for you?
These are just a few of the many extraordinary acts that did happen on this day to an extraordinary group of people……WWII Vets who were on the inaugural Mid Michigan Honor Flight to Washington DC. And now you finally know the rest of the story. What prompted this amazing amount of outpouring of honor, respect and gratefulness from all generations? Well, it had to be something big. And it sure was! The answer lies with those present who represented the “greatest” generation that rose successfully for one of our nation’s most challenging times. WWII Veterans!
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Everyone knows a WWII Vet and we all tend to share a natural view of respect about this generation. And natural is the somewhat surprising but operative word here. When you are on the receiving side of this outpouring shown toward a WWII Vet, you realize that the givers of this honor (across all generational barriers) are being completely natural. They share honor, respect and gratitude and with that a beautiful and a completely natural thing happens. This generation of Vets without question did a big and great thing for other Americans. And if you do a great thing for others, you can rest assured others will recognize it…..naturally. That is the experience the Vets received in DC and I was lucky enough by proxy to see it.
Honor Flights are organized by this non-profit with all volunteer help. And Mid-Michigan Honor Flight hub is led by an exquisite team. These flights are designed to be completely free for the Vet yet shower them with an experience of lasting honor and respect.
That, in a nutshell, is what happened this June 24th, 2014. What a flight! What a day! And what an amazing group of WWII Vets to serve. My faith in country has been completely renewed all because I saw the younger generation naturally giving up honor and respect to those who truly deserve it……our WWII Vets!
So back to the beginning, how would I answer my own question of: “What comparable thing have I done that would bring about this incredible outpouring of honor and respect gracefully received by these WWII Vets?”
Nothing!
All the more reason why I stand and salute!
By Mark
Sztanyo
Volunteer
Guardian
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Another personal story that is
heartwarming as we think about Thanksgiving
and Gratitude:
The Sweetest $50 I Have Ever Held
I was over at my grandson’s house and he had just
completed being a tour guide, showing me the progress they had made on their
house addition, that’s in process. Eric and Witni are trying to raise
their children with Christian values, with a generous heart and an eye toward
charity. Witni said that Corin has something to give me. So
with that I listened to Corin explain that he used the lemonade stand that I built
for them, to make some money. And that he also has been earning money
working after school on his house project with the contractor. Corin is
12 years old, but sometimes he surprises all of us when he acts like a full
grown man. “Grandpa, I really liked how you helped many people flying
those relief flights for the hurricane victims,” which our Chapter of
Pilots for Christ did. Mom and dad were teaching Corin about the
need to give back some of their money for the Lord’s work and to help others.
Corin reached in his pocket and pulled out a folded $50 and handed it to me to
give to our Chapter of Pilots for Christ. Shocked and a little taken back, I
looked at him and saw his eyes and desire, and I accepted his gift for our
Chapter with a big hug. When kids act that generous they can teach others
a thing or two.
Thanksgiving is about gratitude and being gracious to
others. So neat when a young boy of 12 embraces all of that and
more. My Thanksgiving was made better by the charity and generosity of a
grandson. Maybe you’ll be able to do a random act of kindness or maybe
you’ll receive one. Either way, when it happens, stop and pause and feel
the gratitude and thankfulness that is the spirit of this national
holiday.
Thanksgiving….. is so much more than a well prepared
meal!
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