Elizabeth Laird is a Shining Example of Compassion #AtoZChallenge

Elizabeth Laird knew the value of a good hug.
The 83 year old Air Force veteran would stand at the airport in Fort Hood and give every soldier - deploying or returning - a warm hug, a wonderful smile and kind words. It was her way of not just saying thank you but also of letting them know that people remembered them. Over the period of 12 years, starting from 2003, she gave around 500,000 hugs to soldiers. She was always there to greet them at the airport.

And then, one day in 2015, she wasn't.

Worried, soldiers took it upon themselves to seek out the 'hug lady' as she had come to be known. They eventually found her at the Metroplex Hospital in Killeen, fighting the last stages of her 11 year long battle against breast cancer.

A few days later, the 'invasion' began.

Army men from all across the country drove down to Texas, storming Elizabeth's room to hug her back and let her know they remembered her.

'Ms Elizabeth, you may not know it but you made my deployment not so scary. I had no one 

there to send me off  but you were there to comfort me in my time of need. I was alone and 

lost at that point in time but you were there to pick me up and let me know that someone cared 

and that I would be OK. I am forever grateful to you and I hope you have a speedy recovery.'

- Brittany Huft

'Deployment is never easy, but you helped us all smile when we met you there at the airport. 

'That final goodbye hug from the sweetest woman has stuck with me over the years and 

I hope more than anything you'll be better soon.'

- Adam McCormick

As they battled with each other to be the first to hug her, the soldiers also rallied and set up a GoFundMe campaign, getting over $95,000 (Rs 62 lakhs) to pay all her hospital bills.

 'I love her. I deployed teary eyed and scared (secretly) worried my almost two-year-old daughter would forget me. Hug Lady whispered in my ear that everything would be OK. 

It meant the world to me. I wish I had millions to give her.'

 - Claudia Mohead

Elizabeth Laird died of her illness a few months later. But, as her son confirmed, she died happy and joyful, grateful for the love and hugs she received during her last few months.  And the knowledge that her small gesture left such a huge impact in the hearts of so many soldiers.

Why I want you to remember Elizabeth Laird

Elizabeth Laird's gesture of hugging may seem simple but to anyone who is departing to or arriving after a life-altering ,harrowing journey, the warmth of a reassuring hug and the power of a kind word is the steel that strengthens your soul. She touched the lives of half a million soldiers, waiting for them everyday at the airport even though she did not know them, just to make them feel special.
And when the time came, the soldiers showed how much her gesture meant to them too.

This is part of my #AtoZChallenge where I will be focusing on Real Life Heroes: Shining Examples of Kindness and Compassion. You can find other real-life heroes here.