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 12 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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So much to be thankful for. Thank you for sharing
My son returned from 6 months in Afghanistan last week. My heart breaks for this mother. Our sons and daughters are still on harms way…please keep them in your prayers.
This brought tears to my eyes, and although I am a big supporter of our soldiers, who do fight for our freedom each day, I am wondering what did this soldier die for? Why are we still in the Middle East? The Afghans and the Iraqis don’t want us in their country, but we are still there losing our men and women, and breaking the hearts of mothers and father and brother and sisters here at home. When soldiers came home from WWII, we knew what they were fighting for…now, that resolve is blurred. It’s time that we bring our soldiers home.
Thank you for sharing this experience with us. There is no greater love… than to give your life.. for other people. I will always respect our heros and be forever grateful!!!
Johnny, Thank you so much for posting this event. It “hurt my heart” to know a young person died to preserve OUR safety & made me feel so humble. I am the daughter of WWII POW & Purple Heart Recipient (now deceased) & the mother of a current U.S. Navy Special
Forces member. Daddy came home from WWII, married & I was borne in 1946. Through the years I have been to MANY of Daddy’s friends/fellow veterans funeral services & ALWAYS hurt to my core but also know they will rest in peace knowing they did all they could for our country. As for my son, Thank our Lord God, he has returned home from several tours of Iraq/Afghanistan to continue to be a Daddy himself. In my opinion, we CANNOT DO ENOUGH FOR OUR VETERANS! I thank you for your post, reminding us our of ability to live in the most wonderful country in the world.
As the wife of a Marine and Mother of three Marines, simply, thank you. When my husband returned from Vietnam, the scenes were 180 degree different. I cannot thank you enough for sharing your story on line and I viewed your pictures on Fox. It not only brought tears to my eyes but also my husband. These stories like this help Veterans from Vietnam and other conflicts, heal a lot of wounds no one sees. You have no idea how many people you have affected in a good way. Thank you. My prayers to our military and their families. Their families have to bravely carry on.
THANK YOU!!
This is so moving…thank you for sharing your experience. Hope our brave one will rest in peace.
Please remember, when you’re traveling and you encounter a member of the military, please say thanks in some manner. When my son was serving, he had people pay for meals, etc. in the airport. They do appreciate being acknowledged by the public.
A truly touching story. Thank you for sharing.
I don’t want to be the skunk in the room but there is an Awful Reality that Nobody seems to want to address and admit. NONE of these Soldiers had to die or be maimed. Can anybody say what Iraq was for and what did all this sacrifice of lives and limbs get us. Afghanistan is the same. Check out my Song “A KNOCK AT THE DOOR”….As a Country we HAVE to confront this awful truth.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZU5Lne1nwpQ
Barry David Butler
Contact me at bdbutler@centurylink.net
If you don’t want to be a skunk in the room, don’t be a skunk in the room.
Your first sentence is like me saying, “I don’t want to be rude, but have you absolutely no memory of 9-11? That doesn’t ring any bells about why we went to war in Afghanistan?”
The problem with your response being that the poor soldier on that plane was killed more than a decade after 911 and long after Bin Laden and Al Qaeda’s departure to bigger and better killing fields elsewhere. In any case we don’t know where that soldier was killed. Given the sheer number of places we’re at war it could have been in any of a half dozen countries – only one of which has even the slightest connection to 911. Be honest. The only reason we’re still killing and dying in Afghanistan is that our politicians can’t figure out how to finally get us out of that quagmire without risking their careers. THAT is why an awful lot of Afghans and Americans have died and why the butchery continues. Its long since become a pointless exercise in slaughter.
On Saturday, October 26, I flew out of our small local airport to Phoenix. This flight was special in that it carried our local WWII veterans to Phoenix for a special meeting. They were recognized with clapping from the passengers.