Incredibly Cool
Showing love for the other “brotherhood,” (registration required) passengers of American Airlines flight 866, hooked some brothers up.
It all began with a chance encounter at an airport, a glance, an offer, a quiet chat.
What's your seat number, soldier?
It's 23-B, sir, the soldier told the businessman.
No, son, that's my seat. Yours is in first class.
As more soldiers boarded, similar offers quickly came from the other first-class passengers.
And eight soldiers heading home from Iraq for two weeks of R&R found themselves with their officers in the big seats up front instead of the center seats in coach.
U.S soldiers fresh from Iraq were surprised but grateful for the first-class seats on Flight 866 from Atlanta to Chicago.
That spontaneous act of good will transformed American Airlines Flight 866, from Atlanta to Chicago, on June 29.
"The soldiers were very, very happy, and the whole aircraft had a different feeling," said Lorrie Gammon, one of the Dallas-based flight attendants working the trip.
"There were 14 seats in first class, and there were 12 soldiers there. The other two first-class passengers wanted to give up their seats, too, but they couldn't find any more soldiers."(Thanks to Michelle Malkin and others)
Bless those people and the troops.
Posted by: Dex | July 15, 2004 at 10:04 PM
Excellent!
Posted by: Fausta | July 16, 2004 at 10:08 AM
That is one AWESOME story! Thank you for sharing that. Sometimes the naysayers and whiners are so loud, I forget that there are some truly wonderful people in this country.
You just made my day, J. Thank you.
Posted by: Serenity | July 16, 2004 at 10:23 AM
Juliette, this story almost brought tears to my eyes. This is what America is about!
Posted by: Montie | July 16, 2004 at 11:36 AM
That's just Southern hospitality, y'all :)
Posted by: torchy | July 16, 2004 at 12:36 PM
Outstanding!!
If I ran that airline I would be giving all the folks in first class that gave up their seats at least one comp ticket to the destination of thier choice. This story made my day. Thanks for bringing it to light.
Posted by: Guy S. | July 16, 2004 at 02:21 PM
Definitely puts a smile on my face =)
Posted by: Athena | July 16, 2004 at 02:59 PM
A lovely example of how much most of us appreciate our soldiers.
And I'm pretty sure that the first class passengers would have been insulted had AA given them comp tickets for being Christian, eh?
Posted by: beth | July 16, 2004 at 07:37 PM
My favorite read of the day. Thanks, J.
Posted by: Indigo | July 16, 2004 at 10:05 PM
Came here via Dean's World. Heart-warming stroy.
Posted by: The Devil You Know | July 17, 2004 at 04:18 PM
...er, 'story', that is...
Posted by: The Devil You Know | July 17, 2004 at 04:20 PM