Worth Reading

[firerescuefin]

Sorry it's not bashing LEOs or talking about how "all military members aren't heroes".....or extrapolating on some experience you've had to an extreme that only advertises your ignorance or some other basic quality you may be lacking.

Rant over.


http://travel.yahoo.com/ideas/fallen-soldier-213011521.html

[#campyuserftw]

Amen.

[pbarry]

Thanks, Geoff, for the heads-up. Poignant and moving. It amazes me how people act viscerally when they are faced with a reality, vs. something far removed from their physical experience. The reaction/behavior is almost always better, as the story proves:

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. See my video below.

A few minutes after touchdown, we did indeed have a water canon salute, which I’d previously only experienced on happy occasions like inaugural flights. This time, the water glistening on the windowpanes looked like tears.

Passengers in the airport must have been worried when they saw our plane pull into gate 69A, as we had a full police and fire escort, front and back.

I was on the left side of the plane and later realized that the family could be seen off to the right, standing with the United States Army Honor Guard. According to Wikipedia, each military branch has its own honor guard, usually military in nature, and is composed of volunteers who are carefully screened. One of the primary roles for honor guards is to provide funeral honors for fallen comrades.

(Photo: Courtesy of Johnny Jet)

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.

(Photo: Courtesy of Johnny Jet)

It only got more emotional when I deplaned. There was a large number of passengers, who are normally in a hurry to get home or make a connection, standing by the window to witness something truly moving. To see the Honor Guard and family waiting patiently, while LAX baggage handlers and a military loadmaster removed the flag covered casket first from the cargo hold, was humbling to say the least. I’m not sure if it was the fallen soldier’s mother or wife who I watched slowly walk up to the coffin while a few other family members, wrapped in blankets, stood near with a dozen or so of the Honor Guards standing in salute.

As soon as I saw her reach out to put her hand on her baby’s casket, I walked away.

This ordinary flight became extraordinary and is one that I will never forget.

Thank you to all the military who protect our beautiful country and let us live the lives we are able to lead. Without you we would be nothing. And thank you to the Honor Guard for making sure these fallen soldiers, warriors and heroes are not treated like just any piece of luggage as they used to, but rather with the care and respect they so rightly deserve.

[Cat3roadracer]

Dear God. What a post.

[HugoBear]

Wow. Great post.

[weisan]

Sacred.

[Germany_chris]

I thoroughly enjoy bashing LEO's though. :banana:

[fourflys]

Thanks Geoff

I'm truly grateful for all my Brothers and Sisters that have paid the ultimate sacrifice and their families who must live with that sacrifice every day... I come from a military family in which I will probably be the last one and each one of us have been able to separate or retire on our own terms, that is not always what happens though... Being in the medical side of the military, I see members who are forced to separate or retire because of service-connected disabilities... some of these are pretty obvious, some aren't... sometimes members get discharged for discipline reasons that may indeed stem from a PTSD type of injury.... not all disabled vets have an overt sign of their disability... and not all disabled vets are separated under honorable conditions because they did something stupid that may have been caused by a traumatic brian injury or something of the like...

Just something to keep in mind the next time you see that Vet that isn't acting quite right or seems less than happy with the system...

Prayers and blessing to ALL my Military Brothers and Sisters, past, present, and future.

[mike p]

Thanks Geoff.
At the request of the family my son acted as honor guard and flew home with his fallen friend. He actually had to recieved ·quick training from a real honor guard. ·He also spoke at the funeral. ·They had gone through the Naval Academy in Annapolis together, then flight school in Pensacola. First time my son lost a real friend and he was deeply affected.·

Kevin Bacon : "Taking Chance" is a good movie that sheds some light on the whole process.

Mike

[Ahneida Ride]

for the Military my deepest respect.

to our "Politicians" who send then in harms way ....

[rnhood]

Excellent article and its always gratifying to be reminded that there is a large contingent of Americans who really appreciate our sacrifices. You just don't read these type stories often enough.

Mike P, you have a lot to be proud of in your son.

[oldpotatoe]

for the Military my deepest respect.

to our "Politicians" who send then in harms way ....

There is only one 'polititian' who sends any military member into harm's way, and that's the President.

Everybody else, appointed or elected, like the SecDef, are advisors, as are the Joint Chiefs and service secretaries ..but you knew that, right?

Just for info to the civilians out there.

[mistermo]

There is only one 'polititian' who sends any military member into harm's way, and that's the President.

Everybody else, appointed or elected, like the SecDef, are advisors, as are the Joint Chiefs and service secretaries ..but you knew that, right?

Just for info to the civilians out there.

Yes, OP you are technically correct. But realistically, we'd be in Syria right now if it were up to OB. He didn't have the votes and found a face saving way out. And Bush did have the votes, so off to Iraq we went. The 'other' politicians must fund it. But I'm sure you knew that.

Great post.

[#campyuserftw]

Yes, OP you are technically correct. But realistically, we'd be in Syria right now if it were up to OB. He didn't have the votes and found a face saving way out. And Bush did have the votes, so off to Iraq we went. The 'other' politicians must fund it. But I'm sure you knew that.

Great post.

+ один (that's number one in Russian).

[malcolm]

Awesome post

Hero is a word for me that has been diluted to the point of almost having no meaning. While I agree that being in the military or law enforcement or fire dept does not automatically make you a hero it should at least garner you some modicum of respect until your character proves it otherwise.
If we can't respect those who willingly put themselves in a position to be placed in harms way then who among us is deserving of respect. Sure, maybe it's a job and maybe they did volunteer but they have my respect as a group and individuals until they somehow prove otherwise.

[FlashUNC]

There is only one 'polititian' who sends any military member into harm's way, and that's the President.

Everybody else, appointed or elected, like the SecDef, are advisors, as are the Joint Chiefs and service secretaries ..but you knew that, right?

Just for info to the civilians out there.

President is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, but it is Congress' purview to declare war. The executive often gets around this with some creative legal definitions, but the power to declare war was not given to the president by the Constitution.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Powers_Clause

[fourflys]

As I stood, saluting the National Ensign this morning during colors (I have the duty today), I was thinking about this post and the story Geoff shared with us... there's something powerful watching one of the symbols of our country go up the flag pole... even in the cold, dreary Kodiak weather...

[dsimon]

Thanks for posting. I had the opportunity to do an escort detail from Hawaii to Arlington VA a few years ago and I will never forget it!!!!,, thank you agin

[sg8357]

President is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, but it is Congress' purview to declare war. The executive often gets around this with some creative legal definitions, but the power to declare war was not given to the president by the Constitution.

The last declared war was WWII, since then no declared wars.
Given the results of our undeclared wars, the founding fathers
may have been on to something.

Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.
pace Wilfred Owen.

[bcm119]

Nice story. Could've done without the inflammatory rant introducing it though.

[oldpotatoe]

Yes, OP you are technically correct. But realistically, we'd be in Syria right now if it were up to OB. He didn't have the votes and found a face saving way out. And Bush did have the votes, so off to Iraq we went. The 'other' politicians must fund it. But I'm sure you knew that.

Great post.

As has been mentioned above, "The last declared war was WWII, since then no declared wars."

A 'strike' is not a declared war.

OB did not need any 'vote' to attack Syria..he chose to ask for a consensus, didn't get it. But after the Tonkin Gulf, any POTUS can strike, like we did in Libya, also in Grenada, many others, w/o approval of Congress. Essentially he briefs Congressional leaders on what he is going to do, or has already done. NOT asking for approval.

No surprise Dubya got the votes, after 9/11. And Congress didn't actually fund this escapade, at all.

BTW- we are 'in Syria', as well as in Iran, just not in the conventional sense.