Back in October 2013, I boarded a flight that I wasn’t originally supposed to be on. I wasn’t feeling well and so I postponed my flight by a day. Little did I know then that because of this change, I would end up on what would turn into the most emotional flight of my life. It’s now 10 years later and still, I think of this flight often, but especially on Veteran’s Day. Here’s what made it so emotional. RELATED: Travel Tip: Give Your Upgrade to a Soldier
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 put into perspective that none of us would be able to do what we do if it weren’t for these brave men and women.
RELATED: 48 Ways to Honor a Veteran For Their Service On Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day
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 saw fire trucks since Los Angeles greets their fallen military with a water cannon salute. See the video of this extraordinary experience below.
A few minutes after touchdown, we did indeed have a water cannon 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 of honor guards is to provide funeral honors for fallen comrades.
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.” He 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 always tries to be the first off the plane. I’m sure that most had meteor-sized lumps in their throats and tears in their eyes like I did.
It only got more emotional when I deplaned. There were many 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, 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 approach 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.
JOHNNY’S NOTE: I had no idea this story and video would strike a chord with so many people. I’ve received literally thousands of comments and emails but one of the most impactful was the one left on Yahoo from reader Indiana Joan. She said:
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I am a Brit. I come from a military family, and I was in the army for some years. Over here we try to honour the fallen when returned from some foreign field. We don’t normally do it as wonderfully as you do in the US. I have seen videos of your aircraft arriving, as well as some of the long convoys accompanying the hearse taking the fallen home. Like others I had a bit of a lump in my throat when I read what you wrote. I sincerely hope the USA can maintain this respectful and very civilised tradition. It is the least you can do for those brave men and women, some barely adults, who have laid down their lives for their country. God bless them
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I too was on a flight with a fallen soldier years ago. I could not have described the experience better. Yes, everyone stays seated in silence, and I am once again moved to tears reading your experience. It was a very intimate experience in a very public setting. I have tried to describe that experience to others and explain the emotions. Thank you.
whatever! the military is so overblown.
The story was touching my heart! Thanks for sharing.
I enjoy your site and comments, thank you. Hopefully you will enjoy our aviation podcast that has lots of stories and is focused on the funny side or aviation.
Nice share bro. this was very touching
This is really a moving story Johny. And to see stuff like this happens it warms peoples hearts and putting faith back in humanity. It would be better if this soldier would come back home alive and well, but at least his road back home was done with honor.
Must be liberals from. Wish they would secede from our country. In this touching video, a Delta ground crew serves as the honor guard for the. 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 . On Saturday, I will be attending the memorial of one of MY HEROES! Everyone will pass judgement immediately on the people who were booing but we don’t know how clear it was to those people who was disembarking. Stewart Perry is the father of fallen Army soldier John Perry. When he deplaned after this experience, he was bombed with eggs by protesters in Oakland, California. What is a few minutes to give up regardless of the reasons. But know this Jesus said if your are willing to do this for the least.. That’s why today, as a retired GI, I do not recommend any young man or woman join the. Go on about your own business as long as it doesn’t inconvenience me at all. If we brought back the draft those rich first class people might. The Same Ones Who Carried Mexican Flags and Assaulted Supporters Of Donald Trump. Soon, little Gertie and Ethel will be getting pureed on the battle field, just like. They were being passed over just because they did not lose a son in a war zone. If, in fact, the casket does contain a fallen soldier, then I pray God will . Common Sense would tell you there was a reason this family needed to leave the plane early. A heart wrenching story of a fallen soldier’s flight home. Booing this family, instead of saluting them, and showing some kind of sorrow. My post, “Fallen Soldier”, received thousands of views this past weekend. It was for this and many other reasons that Delta was my Airline of choice when I was on Active Duty. If these people had their way, the protestors would no longer have. However, in reality, it’s pretty hard to misunderstand the motivations behind jeering at a military family. People turn into the most selfish creatures ever to walk the planet. Fortunately, that other rouser of rabble won’t be heard from again. Captaining a flight that is transporting a fallen soldier to his final resting place. I am writing this post to tell you what happened after that flight and . I am proud to say that, in honor of the fallen, I was able to make one of my smoothest-ever “greaser”. Of course coming from CA we know the majority of passengers and ALL those booing were liberals. Honors, prayers and Salutes to this brave soldier and his family. A youth choir helped honor a fallen World War II soldier being transported by plane with a rendition of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic. You are a first class person when you sacrifice like this family. At the end of a Delta Air Lines flight from Frankfurt, Germany. I hope all of you missed your double lattes at Starbucks. My Husband and I Tried Blue Apron, Here’s What HappenedBlue Apron. These men fight for our freedoms and all you can do is boo. Just because no one is currently being drafted doesn’t. And while a recent Delta Air Lines flight from Atlanta to Los Angeles indeed. This soldier was a K9 soldier with a dog trained to find IED’s. Certainly Trump would never have allowed that if he was.
I was on a flight from the East Coast, changing planes in Minn. There were several military people in uniform coming back from The desert. Before we boarded the second plane, a flight Attendant came up to one of the military guys, and told him to tell the rest of the uniformed people to not board the flight with the rest of us, as they were going to ride the rest of the flight in first class. I thought what could have been a more fitting tribute to our people.
It was great to stumble upon this post. You touched on a topical issue. I would appreciate if you’d written about how to fill a form online. By the way, if anyone is facing a problem of filling CR2255, I’ve found a template here
http://goo.gl/9iivjsYou also can esign the form and fax it.That’s really touched my heart. Thanks for sharing.
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I started volunteering at my local USO in December. I get a big lump in my throat every time I see a young serviceman or woman walk through our door. We are cautioned about no physical contact and that is probably the hardest thing for me because I just instinctively want to give them a hug. Sometimes I get one from the warrior in thank you for just making him/her a sandwich. Imagine that, they thanking me for a little PBJ sandwich. I always make it a personal practice at the end of my shift to go around to each serviceman or woman we have in house, stick out my hand and say Thank You for your service, it is so gratefully appreciated. I was just graduating from high school during the Vietnam War, so I well remember how our servicemen were treated upon returning home. Whether I am volunteering at the USO or just out shopping, if I ever see a serviceman, in or out of uniform (you can generally tell by the haircut or posture) or wearing a cap saying they are a veteran, I walk straight up to them, stick out my hand and say thank you. I am so proud of all the men and woman who have served and sacrificed for their country and that includes their families. God Bless Them All!!!!