My wife drove her friend Marie and Marie's eight year old daughter Haley to O'Hare Airport last week to pick up Marie's son.  David is eighteen years old and was returning for the holidays after having joined the army.  He had been gone two months to Fort Knox in Kentucky and this was his first trip home.

Having arrived at the airport, Heather, Marie and Haley were frantically running from exit to exit trying to figure out exactly where David would emerge.  They received little, but half-interested, nonchalant help from airport employees.

But Haley was carrying a "Welcome Home David" sign with her, and when they reached one exit where they hoped they would find David, Haley held up the sign.  An airport employee saw it, and correctly surmised that a military person was coming home. 

Suddenly the airport (and I mean the airport!) sprung into action.  At least four people descended quickly upon them. 

"Would you like to go directly to the gate where David will be getting off the plane?" one gushingly asked.

A bit flummoxed, Marie and Heather looked at each other and then back to the woman.  "Uh huh," they finally got out.

To the front of the line and through the full body scans they went...past passengers and bags and TSA officials.  They flew down the terminal ushered by these four employees right to the door of the gate. 

It wasn't long before the door flew open...and there was David.  The pilot and flight attendants stood to the side, almost at attention, and let him go first. 

Hugs all around, pictures taken and then they were whisked off to the USO where they were treated like royalty. 

Did I tell you that David is eighteen years old?  Did I tell you that he left only two months ago as an obscure young man like so many young men do?  And now, in sixty days, he has been transformed in people's minds into a hero.  It was bewildering.

They began their car ride home, but stopped at a pizza place to eat.  The owner of the establishment has a policy in which he gives military personnel a discount.  David insisted to his mother that he would pick up the check.  When the waiter gave him the bill with the discount he looked at David and said, "Thank you for your service." 

Caught off guard, David fumbled and said back, "Thank you for serving us lunch!"

Okay...so this hero thing needs practice. 

A few days later, Haley brought him to school for show-and-tell.  At one point a teacher thanked David for "giving his life" for our country.

David looked a little perplexed and responded with surprise, "Umm...I don't plan on dying or anything." 

Again...much needed practice.

High morale and focused motivation are dependent upon people knowing they are appreciated and understanding the meaningful contribution they are making; true for our soldiers, true for your employees.

Heather, Marie and Haley will drive David back to the airport this Sunday.  Off to more adventures, more challenges and God knows what dangers.  But during just one trip home, he learned how appreciated he is and how much his contribution means to us.

We can hope that those thoughts will keep him warm and safe wherever he finds himself...until the day he comes home to stay.

Heather, Haley, Marie and David