Beautiful Story
A good airline story Tip: Keep inconveniences in perspective.
This past week I was on a four and a half hour, non-stop flight from
Seattle, Washington, to Atlanta, Georgia.
In all my years of traveling, I have learned that each time a plane has
the opportunity to stop, there is potential for unexpected challenges.
Flight delays, weather and airline crews can create unanticipated
challenges on any trip. Therefore, I always try to fly non-stop
between my destinations.
About an hour into this particular flight, the Captain's voice rang
over the intercom. He asked if there was a physician or nurse on the
plane. If so, he asked them to identify themselves by ringing the
flight attendant call button beside their seat.
I listened carefully but heard no one ring their bell. I immediately
began to wonder what was happening.
In a few minutes the Captain informed us that there was a medical
emergency on board and asked again if there was a physician or a nurse
who could help.
When there was no response, we were told that we were going to make an
emergency stop in Denver, Colorado. He apologized but told us that
there would be a medical emergency team waiting to meet us at the gate
and that we would probably only be delayed by about thirty minutes.
Though it was necessary, we knew we would all be inconvenienced by the
extra stop.
About half an hour later, we landed at Denver International Airport and
the medical crew immediately came on board. However, everything took
longer than had previously been expected. An elderly gentleman, about
85 years old, had suddenly taken ill. It was not clear whether he had
experienced a stroke or heart attack.
Even after the gentleman was carried off of the plane, we still sat
there for quite a while. The original "short" stop turned into about
an hour and a half.
When we finally pushed back from the gate and were in the air, the
pilot apologized profusely for the unavoidable delay. He said that
since the stop had taken longer than expected, those passengers who
needed to make connections in Atlanta would miss their flights but
would automatically be booked on the next flight out.
You could almost hear the moans and groans throughout the airplane of
everyone who was being inconvenienced by the unexpected stop.
Then the pilot did one of the classiest things I have personally ever
seen or heard anyone do.
He spoke into the intercom and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, I thought
you might be interested in one bit of information. The elderly
gentleman who was taken off the plane was a Marine in WWII.
I am holding in my hand a copy of the Congressional Medal of Honor that
was awarded to him and signed by President Harry Truman in 1945." The
pilot went on to say, "I realize that we have all been inconvenienced
today. However, in light of the fact that this gentleman was a war
hero and was inconvenienced for four years of his life in order that we
might experience the freedoms that we enjoy today, I thought you all
should know that."
Immediately the airplane was filled with applause. Everyone was
cheering and so pleased to know that the gentleman had been cared for
in a way that was fitting and appropriate. As we continued to fly, I
thought to myself, "Isn't that interesting? We were concerned that we
were inconvenienced for a couple of hours and yet, this gentleman's
entire life was interrupted and inconvenienced for over four years
while he went and fought in a war to protect the freedoms and values
that we love and hold dear in this country today."
I breathed a prayer for the gentleman and asked God to bless him for
all he had done to help us understand what freedom is all about.
"History does not entrust the care of freedom to the weak or timid."
- Dwight D. Eisenhower.