This happened yesterday, March 19th , the 6th anniversary of the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Two Eagles, Hawk and Woody, stood atop Suribachi Wall on the Big Island of Hawaii for several hours with U.S. flags and one sign, saying, "THANK YOU, U.S. TROOPS."

Thousands of passing motorists saw this micro rally.

They were surrounded by rainy weather, but it let them be right until the very last.  They walked away a bit wet, but gratified.

Afterwards they stopped at a nearby Quizno's sandwich shop for a snack, and, as they walked in, they noticed a fellow with military short hair sitting there finishing his sandwich in the company of a very pretty blonde woman . The military haircut caught their eye (not to mention the blonde woman!).

Just as the couple got up to leave, Woody remarked that the weather was pretty crappy and that he was cold.  As the couple walked out the door, 
Hawk said, "Well, this ain't nothing compared to what our soldiers and Marines in Iraq have to put up with."

That immediately caught the guy's attention, and he said, "Man, you sure got that right!"

Hawk immediately asked, "Were you over there?"

 

The man said, "Yep, I just got back."

Hawk asked, "No kidding ? First Battalion, Third Marine Regiment? The Lava Dogs?"  

 

The Marine's jaw dropped: "Yeah!  How'd you know????"

Hawk asked, "When you were over there, did you get to drink any Kona coffee?"

 

Marine: "Man, I sure did ! It was great stuff, too!"

Hawk said, " I'm the guy who was sending you all that coffee!" 

 

Another priceless look ....the Marine's hand comes out to shake Hawk's: "Thank you so much!"

 

Hawk asked him if he felt the coffee helped his mission in any way ?

 

The Marine said, "You bet! It was awesome ! It helped me stay up for long hours when I was just beat, and the taste brought me back here to Hawaii every time!"

Hawk observed that, wet weather and all, that single moment was worth all the effort of gathering, packing, and shipping the hundreds of pounds of Kona coffee he has sent to the troops to date.

 

What a great Eagle!  Thanks, Hawk; keep up the good work!