IT ALL STARTED on April 4th when I took my lady to the airport for her flight to Austin, Texas to be with her daughter and her son-in-law, and then her son and his wife and 2 children were to join them for the Easter Holiday. Everything went well and on Thursday they were all gathered at the daughter's house. The daughter went into her room to lie down as she had a headache, leaving the rest of the family in conversation.

Shortly after, there was a knock on the door. All in the room looked up and all they had seen was someone in an army uniform at the door. The daughter's son was serving in Iraq and they were all stunned to go to the door. They then said to the son-in-law to answer the door. Very nervously he did so and when he opened the door he stood dumfounded and then let out a shriek. It was the son in on leave from Iraq, which was unexpected. My lady then went into the bedroom to get her daughter and told her someone was waiting to see her. She was very disturbed about being awoken. She went into the room but without her glasses she couldn't see the other end of the room. When she approached the soldier, her son, she ran over and hugged him. This alone is a nice story, but it doesn't end here.

When things calmed down they asked him where he would like to go for dinner. A good Texas steak meal was his choice. At the restaurant while waiting to be seated and even when seating at the table people came over to the son to offer him a drink and thank him for being in the service. One gentleman came over and shook the son's hand and told him that no matter what you thought about the politics of the war, he was grateful for him being in the service. The man also offered him a drink, which he didn't accept and thanked him. The man stood there staring at the son and you could see his eyes getting watery. The man again thanked him and left to his table.

After the meal when the group went to pay the check, they were told that a customer wanting to remain nameless, but he was pointed out by the cashier that he paid the check for the table. The cashier then added that the man's son was killed two weeks prior in Iraq.

Yes, Texas is a big state and they have their share of big hearts. All others should follow this example.

[read follow-up article]