Army Spc. Larry K. Brown, 4/06/2003

Today I did my second random act of kindness for the troops, and it turned out pretty awesome.

First, let me tell you about Army Specialist Larry Brown.

According to USA Today and the Associated Press:
LaKeidra Davis remembers older brother Larry Brown’s passion for basketball and his sense of humor. 

 “He was very comforting at bad times. He always had the right thing to say,” said Davis, 16. “He used to make me laugh. ... He’d make a joke about anything; it would be so funny.” 

Brown, 22, a track and basketball athlete as a student at Bailey Magnet High School in Jackson, Miss., was killed in action in Iraq April 5. 

Davis said her brother seemed happy when he called her from Kuwait on March 12. 

“He was doing what he wanted to do,” said his mother, Rosemary Brown. “We were all proud.” 

Dorothy Terry, principal of Brown’s high school, also remembers his humor. 

“He was a kind of funny guy when he wanted to be,” she said. “But for the most part, he was a real serious young man.” 

 I went to Firehouse Subs in Flowood, MS, after a shopping trip, mostly because as a volunteer firefighter, I always try to support that business. You know, the brotherhood and all.

As I was getting out of the car, it struck me that this would be a perfect time for a random act of kindness.

I ordered my food, and then I bought a $10 gift card. I told the guy behind the register that in a minute I was going to give him a project. The staff exchanged confused looks, but then I put the gift card inside the Christmas card and explained what I was doing, with a little disclaimer about how I'm behind, so that's why it's still a Christmas card.

I asked them if they could just give the card to the next person who came in, and not tell them where it came from. The manager said they most certainly would, so I went to get my drink and as I was finding a table, three airmen from the nearby Air National Guard base came in. I smiled at the manager and said, "Well, that worked out pretty well."

The guy who ended up in line first was a young guy, probably about my brother's age. I tried to overhear what they were telling him, and I heard them all say, "Pay it forward," a few times, but I couldn't hear much else about the conversation. The guys went and sat at a table not far behind me, though, and I was able to listen to him read it out loud to the other guys.

It was really cool to know this one had gone to someone I know understands the sacrifice we're honoring here. I heard one of them say something about even using the same card when you pass on the random act of kindness, and I thought, "What a cool idea."

On the way home, I got big tears in my eyes, because I realize as good as this project makes me feel, what's more important to me is that these soldiers who gave us the ultimate gift are not forgotten. They were all brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, daughters and sons, and they all ate at places like Firehouse Subs and Heart & Soul Diner. They all went about their lives just like anyone else, but they were called to be something greater.

 (Photo by the Associated Press: Lt. Col. Lucius Wright, Ret., director of the U.S. Army JROTC for the Jackson, Miss., Public Schools System, pauses to extend condolences to Rosemary Davis, mother of Army Spc. Larry K. Brown, who was killed April 5 while fighting in Iraq. The memorial ceremony was Thursday at Bailey Magnet High School in Jackson. Brown, 22, was a member of C Company, 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment from Fort Riley.) 

 (As a P.S., the good folks at Firehouse gave me a gift card for a free medium drink because they appreciated what I did. That made me a little teary too. People really are good at heart, and really when you boil it down, most people want to be good to other people. You just have to give them a reminder and a chance. Thank you, Firehouse folks.)

John 15:13 - Greater love hath no man than this, that he would lay down his own life for his friends.