Conservative talk show host Dana Loesch is known for her tough-talk and avid support for the right to bear arms. But there is a much softer side to the NRA spokeswoman, as she showed in the re-telling of a recent experience she and her husband had when meeting a veteran’s widow.
Loesch took to Instagram to recall the powerful encounter which took place on a flight from Dallas, Texas, as she and her husband, Chris, embarked on a trip to celebrate their 18th wedding anniversary. Loesch said that, after boarding the aircraft, she “noticed that we each had aisle seats and wondered if anyone would be willing to switch with one of us so we could sit together.”
“A soft-spoken older woman a grandmother’s age kindly offered,” she continued. “She was traveling alone with only a small black suitcase and an blue, ordinary cloth grocery bag. We thanked her and promised to help her with her luggage after we landed.”
But as the crew readied the aircraft for takeoff, the radio host said she “noticed from the corner of my eye that she seemed upset.”
When asked by the flight attendant if she needed anything, the lady declined. But then, she did something extraordinary. She “reached for something in her grocery bag and removed an unmistakable triangle-folded flag,” recalled Loesch. “She placed it on her lap, her hands over it, and closed her eyes as the plane sped down the runway and ascended into the sky.”
Loesch explained how the old woman kept the flag placed on her lap for the entire duration of the flight, before carefully returning it to its humble cloth bag upon landing. That’s when Chris uttered a few meaningful words to the woman. Loesch explained:
“My husband leaned up and gently touched her elbow. ‘I noticed the flag you’re carrying,’ he said. ‘Are you coming back from a funeral service?’
‘My husband’s.’ she said, tears in her eyes. ‘He was an Army captain. Served in Vietnam …’ her voice trailed off. ‘Is this home for you?’ She shook her head yes. ‘Well,’ Chris continued, ‘we are grateful to him and so sorry for your loss. We will keep you in our prayers.’ I leaned over him and gently clasped her hand in mine. ‘Thank you,’ she said through tears and a sweet smile.
Just before the Loesches and the woman went their separate ways, she bestowed a parting pearl of wisdom.
“Sunday is our 18th wedding anniversary,” Chris told the lady.
“Wonderful, wonderful,” she replied, her eyes immediately lighting up. “Don’t waste a single moment of it. Not one.”
Many replied to Loesch’s story with messages of congratulations and thanks for sharing such a poignant story.
“Wow. Tears. Such a beautiful story,” one person wrote. “Congrats on your 18th!!”
“No words ! Priceless,” another added. “Thank you for his service mam.”
“A very touching story,” wrote another. “Congratulations on your 18 years. I too am a Vietnam vet and my wife and I earlier this month celebrated our 57th wedding anniversary.”