Semper Fly
Big-hearted Beantown chips in to bring home a young jarhead who was looking at a barracks Thanksgiving:
South Boston newlyweds Brian and Jonna Sheehy read the story together on Page 4 of Sunday’s Boston Herald. It was about people they’ve never met. Yet the second they finished, they looked at each other and decided.
“We’ve got to do something for them,” Brian Sheehy said.
“Them” were Evelyn Rohrbacher, 72, her husband, Buddy, 77, and the Marine grandsons they helped raise since the young men’s mother - the couple’s daughter - died. Living on Social Security, the Rohrbachers had counted on a military discount to help pay for a Thanksgiving flight home for Marine Reservist Adam Hinckley, 19, stationed at Camp Lejeune, N.C.
When the Iraq war began, many airlines offered the military dramatically discounted $200 and $300 round-trip domestic flights. But no more.
“It’s a disgrace,” said Brian Sheehy, 38, an MBTA inspector.
So he picked up the phone, called 411, dialed the Rohrbachers’ North Easton home and told them he and Jonna were mailing a check to cover Hinckley’s $650 US Airways flight, the cheapest Evelyn Rohrbacher could find.
“We’re not rich,” said Sheehy, “but we go to work every day. We don’t have any children yet and here’s this opportunity to help a kid who’s dedicating himself to give us the freedom we all enjoy. And big-business, fat-cat airlines can’t even give him a military discount to come home for the holidays?”
“Family is very important to Brian and I,” read the note Jonna Sheehy, 37, wrote to the family. “We hope that this token of thanks allows you to have a happy, healthy and fun Thanksgiving at home. Enjoy yourself and the time with your family.”
Evelyn Rohrbacher got the call and the check, then read the note and just about fell off her chair.
But the Sheehys weren’t the only big-hearted Herald readers to pitch in.
Six Boston police officers working out of Roxbury sent checks totaling $500.
“We’ve all been there,” said an officer named Joe, a former Marine requesting anonymity, “stuck on base the day before Thanksgiving, not going home because you can’t afford the flight or can’t drive 14 hours each way.”
…
The Rohrbachers’ other Marine grandson, Derek Surette, 24, is in Iraq today. And the Sheehys are sending a care package to Derek as well. But they, like the Rohrbachers and the others who helped, did not seek publicity. Only after a reporter went to their home did the Sheehys talk about Adam Hinckley, who’s spending today in Quincy with about 15 family members.
Evelyn will bring her traditional pork sausage and custard stuffing, Adam’s favorite.
About the only people who haven’t offered help? Said a grateful grandfather, Buddy Rohrbacher, “USAir.”
Plane Truth about Military Discounts:
Certain airlines offer discounted fares to members of the military, but most are reluctant to disclose how deep their discounts are.
Northwest Airlines has military discounts only on its full fares - not its less expensive ones - and on select routes, spokesman Darren Shannon said. He would not offer examples of how much military fares are discounted, calling that proprietary information, even though the taxpaying public pays for the military. In some instances, Northwest has also waived certain fees, but not fares, Shannon said.
“We’re not a charity,” he said.
Continental Airlines offers military fares “comparable” to its discounted fares and with fewer restrictions - subject to availability, spokeswoman Mary Clark said.
United Airlines has military discounts “designed for last-minute travel,” said spokesman Jeff Kovick. The amount of the discount depends on the route, date and time.
US Airways discontinued military discounts in 2005, when it merged with America West Airlines and restructured its ticket prices so that its new fares are less expensive than its previous discounted tickets for the military, spokeswoman Valerie Wunder said.
Topics: military
Posted by Jules Crittenden at 8:17 am on Thursday, November 22, 2007
3 Responses to “Semper Fly”
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November 22nd, 2007 at 7:35 pm
I tend to agree with the airlines on this particular issue. They are not obligated to give anyone a break for any reason. What they did for US uniformed service personnel when they did for as long as they did was a very nice thing to do. They were not obligated to do so, though. In my way of looking at things, that makes it even a nicer thing to have done.
The Marine is/was responsible for his travel arraignments. There could well have been pay issues with him being a reservist. Or, he could be the kind of young Marine I was, and unable to save a penny between paychecks, even if his life depended on it.
But, it was his obligation to either make the necessary plans and arraignments or do without.
The folk who stepped up and helped out are a bright and shiny example of why this country is worth fighting for. There are good, decent, kind and caring people everywhere. These are the folk that walk the talk of decent bigheartedness.
November 23rd, 2007 at 6:37 am
How sad.
November 23rd, 2007 at 6:40 am
I put that how sad comment in the wrong place. This is not sad, it is a good thing.