Lets Bring Em Home - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

B_Wayne · 12-18-2004, 01:38 PM

Ladies and Germs,
In the life of a service member, there are things that happen that are beyond explanation or reason. Waking up at 0430 for a room inspection, running any distance in the double digits, just to name a few. But there are things that are truly sad, and among those is the idea of having to spend the holidays alone.

As many of you know from my other posts, my family went through a really hard time this year. Step-father divorced my mother, attempted to take her to the cleaners, and left me and her in financial ruin (Because I refuse to have my mother in the poor house). Things have been really rough lately and I wanted to do something really special for my mom. I tried to find a ticket home and they were just to expensive, there was no way I was going to make it. My sisters are spending this Christmas with their Dad, so it was just going to be my mom and brother at home this year. That coupled with the knowledge that I would be spending Christmas alone, made my mom extremely depressed.

While surfing the net one night, I found this website. I wasnt looking for anything of this nature, but somehow, this website found me. www.lbeh.org . This website's entire reason for being is to accept donations from people/organizations, and turn that money into FREE plane tickets home for service members for this holiday season. I submitted an application, but with more than $8000 pending in other tickets, I thought my chances were really slim. By the next day, the amount pending was up in the $15000 range. I knew I wasnt getting a ticket now. Well ladies and germs, I just received a call, and I was given my flight information over the phone.

I am going home for absolutely nothing, and its all thanks to the great people at this website, and the people who donated their hard earned money. As I sit here thinking about the miracle I just benefitted from, I cant help but shed a tear of joy thinking of the look on moms face when I show up to the door next week. I cant help but be thankful for not having to spend ANOTHER Christmas alone in the barracks.

If you are in a position to I would ask that everyone visit their site and drop them a couple of bucks. They have a paypal account so you can send it nice and easy. Every dime (with the exception of the paypal fees) helps Service members like me who cant afford to go home this Christmas. They also have a way where you can donate frequent flier miles if thats something you are interested in doing. Every cent counts, and think of how you would feel if you were alone on Christmas...and then think of how you would feel being me....the guy who was just gifted with a $500 ticket home...for FREE.

If you dont donate, thats ok. Just say a prayer for those who cant make it home this year. Above all else...be thankful for your time with your family and friends...for there are some a lot less fortunate who wear a uniform to protect your freedoms everyday.

Sorry for the book, but I really had to get this out.