Last Flight Home
From Yahoo News comes the story of a soldiers last flight home. A passenger that day was riding on a flight with a fallen soldier and decided to write about it. I’ll let him tell you about it…
Delta Flight 2255 from Atlanta to Los Angeles seemed to be an ordinary flight with the exception of Candy, who was the most loving flight attendant I’ve ever encountered. Besides using her Southern charm to quickly defuse every situation, she began her welcome announcement by thanking the handful of uniformed soldiers on-board for serving our country. Her poignant message was followed by applause, and it put into perspective that none of us would be able to do what we do without these brave men and women.
But this transcontinental flight turned out to be everything but ordinary. We later learned, when the captain got on the PA system about 45 minutes prior to landing, that we were transporting a fallen soldier. The plane went quiet as he explained that there was a military escort on-board and asked that everyone remain seated for a couple of minutes so the soldiers could get off first. He also warned us not to be alarmed if we see fire trucks since Los Angeles greets their fallen military with a water canon salute.
You really should read it, the author does a better job than I could.
When the jet door opened, another military officer addressed the escort who was standing at attention. He then stepped on the plane and told us passengers “I just addressed the escort. It is a sworn oath to bring home, to the family, the fallen.” He paused and then said, “Today you all did that, you are all escorts, escorts of the heart.” And then thanked us for our time and walked off the plane.
As you can imagine, everyone was silent and no one got up, not even that person from the back row who pretends he doesn’t [understand] English so he can be first off the plane. I’m sure most had meteor-sized lumps in their throats and tears in their eyes like I did.
There is video of the water cannon salute at the story, my web fu is weak so I’m not going to try and embed it here. Take some Kleenex with you when you go to the link….
Category: Blue Skies
Great, just had an immense dust storm in my cubicle.
I’m actually trying to NOT weep loud enough for my co-workers to hear and think I’m a giant pussy.
@1 Same dust storm tore through my Cubicle as well when I saw this earlier.
This is just like the HBO movie, “TAKING CHANCE”, which I’ve got in my DVD collection.
It’s the true account of a Marine Corps officer, played by Kevin Bacon, escorting a fallen Marine home to Wyoming.
The movie focuses on the reactions of everyone encountered during the trip.
If you haven’t seen, “TAKING CHANCE”, then I highly recommend it.
Unlike most contemporary Hollywood movies, “TAKING CHANCE”, is clean enough for the entire family to watch together.
@3 John,
That’s what it made me think of when I read it too…
@3 Good movie JRM, indeed my allergies are something awful when I watch that movie, I have to say Kevin Bacon brings a determined, sober, dignity to the role of the officer escorting the remains…
May I ask what seems like a silly question?
Why are passengers told to remain in their seats?
By that I mean standing – whether for a woman entering the area, the President entering a room, a judge entering a court, singing of the National Anthem, etc, – is always a sign of respect.
Other than trying to make sure people don’t try to leave the aircraft (which could be handled by an announcement) why limit people’s ability to show a sign of deserved and heart felt respect?
gitarcarvr: due to the overhead storage bins on most airliners, anyone over about 5 ft tall would not be able to stand erect without moving into the aisle and blocking same.
Hondo,
It’s been awhile since I was on a plane but I never had a problem standing. Thanks for the response as it makes sense.
Thanks again.
About a year and a half ago my husband and I were in Syracuse awaiting a flight to Charlotte, then on to Denver. An weary looking soldier, dressed in Class A’s entered the gate area, carrying a folded flag. We knew right away he was escorting a fallen soldier. I watched the flag draped casket being loaded onto the plane, trying but failing not to cry. I was thinking of the conversations my husband, sons and I had over the years about our wishes, should an escort be necessary for any of us. The escort boarded first and deplaned first. We watched his charge respectfully being unloaded from the plane. I now think of those 2 men every time I board a plane. And cry. And thank God for their service.
Forget the dusty. It’s a dust storm inside here. And I haven’t even gone to the link, I don’t dare.
I have been on or close to one of those escort flights a time or two. Very sobering. Makes you want to stand a little taller in order to honor Our Honored Dead. And I always present arms (salute).