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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I was recently on an American Airlines flight that was transporting a fallen soldier home. It is the most moving experience I have ever had on an aircraft. Makes you realize what is important.
Thank you for sharing your experience.
Thank you for sharing. I lost my own father, a policeman in the line of duty and I know the families appreciate the respect everyone showed their loved one. God bless these brave soldiers and their families.
Wow. Sorry to hear that. God Bless
This is such a moving tribute. I am sure the family would be touched to read your story if you could ever track them down, and based on your writing skills I bet you could track them down. Thank you for sharing, Johnny.
To Johnny Jet,
A wonderful tribute to one of our fallen brave soldiers! However, one of your statements in this article was unnecessary, dishonorable and biased.
“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.”
Who are you to presume that a person from the back row does not speak English? Did you converse w/ this or these individuals who bolt off of a plane pretending not to “understand English”? How did you arrive at that conclusion?
As a former f.a. & an oft traveler, I have never encountered such a person. People like me have little tolerance for the intolerant and you punctuated this otherwise great show of respect to one of our own with your personal bigoted comment. Bev of Boston, MA
I don’t think his remark about the person in the back was meant to be bigoted. I have traveled by air and have found that his statement wasn’t far from the mark. So are you going to call me bigoted, or did you just need to blow off some steam? Perhaps he should have said the disabled or geriatric!
Yep I would expect you to be from liberal Boston. So he made a comment, big deal. Start living life Bev and stop all your PC nonsense.
Obviously Bev has totally missed the point of the post. She is too busy nurturing that chip on her shoulder to notice that the story is about a fallen American soldier, not her and her experience.
@Bev – I read *NOTHING* that was “bigoted” or “intolerant.” Leave it to a bed wetting liberal like you to RUIN the comment section. I get so sick and tired of you people claiming “racism” and “bigotry” on everything YOU don’t agree with. Go pound sand! And change your sheets, liberal. It’s people like you turning this nation into a bunch of mindless drone candyasses.
Please stop with the “liberal” comment. I am a liberal. My son has served in 3 tours. I have absolute respect for our military.
Thanks “Anonymous”! I agree with your comments!!! You can always tell the liberals because when they run out of semi-legitimate talking points and have been shut down, they turn to the good old standbys – “racist”, “bigot”, “__-phobe! Then they deny they were calling people names!!!!
RIP to the fallen soldier; such a sad event, but such an honorable event the passengers participated in!
Bev’s just mad Johnny blew her cover.
Bev, leave, now!
How dare you!
How dare you how dare her! This Johnny Jet character’s cheap shot at the passenger who allegedly tried to exit the plane is contemptible. He knows that passenger was pretending not to speak English how exactly? Thanks to Bev for calling him on it.
How dare you? Were you there? And his remark about a passenger feigning to not understand the announce is just a comparison. Are you aware that some passengers from FIRST CLASS got up and tried to leave? Are you? You and Bev should sit down and have a happy meal together because you sound like petulant children.
A truly moving piece. Let us never forget the effort of military members and peace workers who do so much to make our world a safe place to explore.
Johnny, thank you so much for taking the time to share this. I’m one of the blessed – my husband has come home alive every time. It doesn’t make it any easier though. All we can do is live each day together as though it’s our last.
And for the others who have commented, thank you as well for your recognition of all that our military families live with on a daily basis. They’re much appreciated.
Sharii, First thank your husband for us for serving this great nation with honor. I am a Veteran as well and have been honored to attend funerals at Arlington and see the respect given to these brave servicemen who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Secondly thank you as well. Many seem to forget that while you didn’t take the same oath we did, you are a Combat Service Members Wife who took an oath to your husband and are therefore a Veteran of sorts yourself. Thank you for supporting your husband and this country. I pray you will never have to experience what so many other Militay Wives/Mom’s etc have had to face. Dan L.
Thank you for your service.
Thank you for sharing, May the brave soldier RIP
Oh dear Johnny – Chill bumps and tears have been replaced with appreciation that I have for your article- thank you for posting this for us. Sometimes the experiences while traveling are so moving that it changes us forever.
thank you for sharing and heartfelt thanks to all the families who have served and the ones who have lost loved ones!
So humbling. I am completely teary right now.
Thank you for posting this. So moving.
I remember the movie Taking Chance which was about a military escort. We owe our fallen and their families more than words can express.
So sad I could hardly read it. But thanks for reminding me …
What a flight. One you wont forget.