Back in October 2013, I boarded a Delta Air Lines flight that I wasn’t originally supposed to be on. I hadn’t been feeling well, so I postponed my flight by a day. Little did I know that this simple change of plans would put me on what would become the most emotional flight of my life. It’s now 13 years later and I still think about that experience often, especially around Veterans Day. Here’s what made this flight so unforgettable.
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Delta Flight 2255 from Atlanta to Los Angeles seemed like an ordinary flight, with the exception of Candy, who was one of the most loving flight attendants I’ve ever encountered. Besides using her Southern charm to quickly defuse just about any situation, she began her welcome announcement by thanking the handful of uniformed service members on board for serving our country. Her heartfelt message was followed by applause from the passengers and served as a reminder that so many of the freedoms we enjoy are made possible by the sacrifices of the brave men and women who serve.
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But this transcontinental flight turned out to be anything but ordinary. About 45 minutes before landing, the captain came over the PA system and explained that we were transporting a fallen soldier home. There was a military escort on board and he asked everyone to remain seated for a few minutes after arriving at the gate so the military personnel could exit first. He also told us not to be alarmed if we saw fire trucks waiting for our arrival because Los Angeles would be honoring the fallen soldier with a water cannon salute. The cabin went quiet as everyone absorbed what he had just told us.
A few minutes after touchdown, we did indeed receive a water cannon salute, something I’d previously only experienced on happy occasions like inaugural flights. But this time was different. As the water streamed down the aircraft windows, it looked like tears. Passengers inside the airport must have wondered what was happening when they saw our plane pull into gate 69A with a full police and fire escort, both in front and behind the aircraft.
I was sitting on the left side of the plane and later realized that the fallen soldier’s family was waiting off to the right, along with members of the United States Army Honor Guard. These service members perform ceremonial duties, including providing military funeral honors for fallen comrades. Seeing the military personnel waiting alongside the family made the significance of our arrival even more apparent.
When the aircraft door opened, another military officer addressed the escort, who was standing at attention. The officer then stepped onto the plane and spoke to all of us passengers. He said, “I just addressed the escort. It is a sworn oath to bring home, to the family, the fallen.” He paused for a moment before adding, “Today you all did that, you are all escorts, escorts of the heart.” He 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 seems determined to be the first one off the plane. I’m sure most of us had meteor-sized lumps in our throats and tears in our eyes, just as I did. I’ve flown millions of miles over the years and experienced countless memorable moments in the air, but I had never experienced anything quite like this.
It only got more emotional when I deplaned. Instead of rushing to baggage claim or hurrying to catch connecting flights, many passengers stopped at the terminal windows to witness something truly moving. Outside, the Honor Guard and the fallen soldier’s family were waiting as LAX baggage handlers and military personnel carefully removed the flag-draped casket from the cargo hold. It was an incredibly humbling scene and one that I’ll never forget.
I watched as a woman, who I believe may have been the soldier’s mother or wife, slowly approached the casket. A few other family members stood nearby, wrapped in blankets, while members of the Honor Guard stood at attention. I couldn’t begin to imagine what that family was going through or how difficult it must have been to wait for their loved one to come home under such heartbreaking circumstances.
As soon as I saw the woman reach out and place her hand on the casket, I walked away.
That was more than I could bear to watch. Even today, 13 years later, I get emotional thinking about that moment and the extraordinary sacrifice that family made.
A flight I will never forget
What began as an ordinary flight became the most extraordinary flight of my life. I’ve traveled all over the world and taken thousands of flights, but this experience stands apart from all the others. It was a powerful reminder that behind every military uniform is a person with family and friends who love them, and that the sacrifices made by our service members affect far more people than we sometimes realize.
I’m grateful to the Delta crew, the military escort, the Honor Guard and everyone at LAX who helped ensure that this fallen soldier was brought home with the dignity and respect they deserved. I’m especially grateful to the men and women who serve our country and to the families who support them, often making sacrifices of their own.
Veterans Day is a time to recognize and thank all those who have served in the United States Armed Forces, while Memorial Day specifically honors those who died in military service. Although this experience involved a fallen soldier, it reminds me every Veterans Day of the courage, commitment and sacrifice of our military members and their families.
To all our veterans and active-duty service members, thank you for your service. And to the families who have lost loved ones while serving our country, please know that their sacrifices are not forgotten.
Thirteen years later, I can still hear that military officer’s words: “You are all escorts, escorts of the heart.” I’ll carry those words, and the memory of that flight, with me for the rest of my life.
Johnny’s note
When I first shared this story and video in 2013, I had no idea how many people it would touch. Over the years, I’ve received thousands of comments and emails from readers, including veterans, military families and people who have experienced similar homecomings. One of the most impactful was a comment left on Yahoo by a reader named Indiana Joan. Her words have stayed with me, just as this flight has.
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This friend and relative of many veterans and former emergency responder was thoroughly gutted. And I’d wept with gold star parents as well as over my own fallen brothers.
We take for granted our Freedom and Liberty, which is paid for at a dear price.
This is not the time for political BS. This is strictly a time to mourn loss of life and for the family of the fallen. Thank you, Johnny Jet, for an amazing story that has truly touched me. Wow.
I have been privileged to serve as honor guard for returning Marines as well as providing honors at the funerals. It is moving every time, it is hard every time, it is an honor every time.
Semper Fi.
I am very grateful that this story was posted, so thank you for that. I do have a suggestion, however … I think you should have avoided saying that “most” Americans don’t appreciate what our soldiers do. I thought that making that statement on broadcast news was totally rude and an unnecessary politically slanted comment at a time when politics should have NEVER entered the moment. Maybe few have experienced the way fallen soldiers are escorted and don’t fully appreciate that kind of experience, but I’d venture to say that MOST Americans — even those who would express anti-war sentiments — still appreciate how our young men and women put their lives on the line for us. The reactionary of our culture seem to really enjoy exasperating situations and glorify ignorance, but that doesn’t hide the fact that the vast majority of people who would express anti-war opinions, are expressing them at the political machinery that makes wars, not so much those who just follow orders they have no control over. And pleeeezzzzze … those of you who want to do ‘neener, neener’ 6th grader comments about ‘if you don’t like it here, go somewhere else’ … expressing ideas that can lead to a better America is ONE of the most patriotic acts an intelligent country/culture-loving American can do. We love it here, but we are NOT stupid to think that NO improvements could be made.
I do regret saying most. I should’ve used the word “many”.
I had a similar experience on a flight from Atlanta to Pensacola, FL. After we landed but before we reached the gate the pilot announced the presence of the military escort on board. The plane went silent and nobody moved from their seats. We all watched out the windows as the flag draped coffin was attended to by military and ground crews. No words were spoken until the coffin had been placed in the waiting hearse and the hearse was escorted from the tarmac. As a mom to an Army soldier myself the tears were flowing freely as I thought about the family waiting for this soldier. There but for the grace of God go I.
Thank you. The most important story well told.
Johnny, I like so many other Soldiers have been there to receive a fallen Soldier when he/she comes off of the plane. Thank you for paying tribute to those that have fallen and noting that everyone on the plane did in their own way pay their respects, even if it was just allowing the Soldiers get off to receive the fallen.
I would also like to say thank you very much for NOT showing the family coming up to the plane. That is a sad solemn moment that is meant ONLY for the family, and I am sure they would not have wanted to have been put on a website. Thank you again for respecting the family and the fallen Soldier!
SSG Paul M.
U.S. Army
This reaffirms my dedication to OUR America. With all the insanity ruling our lives from the district of corruption, I still feel we have a chance to right things IF we work together. God bless ALL of our military and their devotion to our republic.
Served in Nam in ’68 & 69, saw a lot of caskets during Tet, you never forget. I’m 68 years old now and it seems like yesterday, I’d do it again in a heart beat. My father and two of brothers served in WWII this is a great country despite the politicians. GOD BLESS AMERICA
You’d invade, occupy and slaughter the citizens of a country 10,000 miles away that never threatened to the United States, never attacked the United States and only ever sought their independence from colonialism — again? And all because some hack politician that couldn’t even spell Vietnam told you to? What could be more unAmerican than that? That’s just sick and evil.
First time I ever cried thank you for posting this Fallen Soldier on My Delta Flight -Johnny Jet I was in Dessert Strom saw mini come home,but this one is the best.
Silent Hero’s
November 11th will soon be here to remember our Freedom
Fighters and especially those who have fallen serving our
homeland. With honor we will give special recognition.
However, many do not know about those who silently serve
our country but will not receive any recognition. Over the
years they have and still serve as special agents within the
different branches of military and Government . They have
served our country at great personal risk since 1775. To
this day they are dispatched into the foreign populations to
infiltrate enemy war zones. They gather acute and covert
intelligence. Sometime they receive special recognition such
as the Thomas W. McKnowlton Intelligence Award. Yet we
may never know about it because that award is restricted to
those within our intelligence services. Today I want to beam
some light in general to let these very special patriots know
that we honor their service and we give thanks to God to each
for their silent sacrifice and love of country.