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.
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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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By the way,
Ted…Freedom to speak your part is guaranteed.
You are also free to leave this country you think so little of
Read your story, tried to share it with my wife.
Could not get through it without getting emotional.
Good job, thanks for sharing it
Thank you for the respectful article about bringing our Fallen back to their families. Being a military father, it is important to me that all parties on the aircraft and ground, honor the Fallen and their family. Great coverage for such a solemn event, Anonymous
I have two son’s now in the Marines. One is a 5 tour decorated veteran as a Explosive Ordinance Specialist. The other son is just now deploying over seas as a rifleman. I am very proud to have two of my eight children represent this family in making this world a better place. Without the bravery of our young warriors this world would be worse off without a doubt. I pray every night that ALL MIGHTY GOD protects our brave warriors around the world. As their fathers before them America’s young take the battle to our enemy so that we may live in peace here in this great country.
Johnny I was a few seats behind you. Your comments were perfect. I’ll never forget it. My eyes teared up when I talked about it to my friends. My posted it on your piece on Facebook and one of her friends said it must have been an honor to be on that plane and it was
Wow! Small world. Thanks for sharing.
Johnny,
Thanks for the moving article. Do you happen to know the name of the fallen hero and the date of the flight? Thank you
Thank you for finding the importance of this event and sharing it with all of us. As a proud American I was very choked up and was crying as I read the story. Let this be a reminder to all that there is a cost to our freedom that we enjoy as Americans and the price of that freedom we all take for granted. I cried for the solder who gave all to us Americans and the sacrifice of the family of the fallen solder. Least we forget this ultimate sacrifice as we lead our day to day life free from the harm of the world around us and how we have lessened 9/11 and what happened on that September morning. This moment is a reminder of that day. God speed to our fallen and God bless the families of the fallen and may we all have them in our prayers.
Thank you so much for sharing your moving experience. I am Gold Star Mother, my only child was KIA in Iraq in May 2004. When he was returned to SFO, it was heart-wrenching to see his flag covered casket unveiled after the plane pulled up.
As much as I was aware, I did see all members of ground crews stop and salute my son and I believe the passengers were not allowed off the plane until my son was removed. Other than that, that day was possibly worse than getting the knock on the door.
Every American should see the return ceremony as our KIA’s are .honored when they come home.
The Holley Act, I believe is enacted when a soldier’s home is located more than a few hours from the nearest major airport. There were some ugly and unfortunate airport experiences early on in the wars. The Army first told me that we would pick up my son in the commercial baggage area. Imagine my expletive deleted response to that suggestion.
On a lighter note, as our family waited on the tarmac, the TSA was horrified that members of the Honor Guard were in possession of box cutters (to remove the casket from the plane) I assured them that this grieving mother had nothing on my mind other than to bring my boy home.
Again, thank you for sharing your experience and for all of the people who commented on how important this ceremony is.
Indeed, this is a debt that cannot be repaid.
Thank you for raising such a wonderful son. Thank you for the ultimate sacrifice. Thank you for sharing your grief. May God Shine Down Upon You and Your Family. I am forever in your debt.
God Bless our Fallen Heroes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf_1-ujnykE
As an aside, the nation’s first memorial dedicated exclusively to honoring all the fallen Americans from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq is located in Irvine, CA. It started in 2003 as a grassroots temporary memorial and became a permanent memorial in November 2010. Currently there are 6,714 names engraved in the granite panels of the Memorial, covering all those who died between October 2001 and June 2013. Families who have lost a loved one, and friends of the fallen may request free name rubbings by submitting a request form on the Gold Star page of http://www.NorthwoodMemorial.com. Direction to the Memorial are on the home page of the site.
What happened to the Holley Provision voted into federal law in 2007 and named after fallen hero Matthew Holley?
It required the fallen service member to be returned via a charter flight to the nearest airport to the home town of the fallen hero, and met by a military escort. This was to avoid the fallen from being treated and handled like a box of auto parts with forklifts and baggage handlers on commercial flights, stored in freight warehouses overnight, etc. (Prior to this being enacted there were horror stories about less than appropriate treatment of the caskets sent via airlines.)
When did that honorable way of returning the heroes home end??
Thank you for sharing this moment.
Thank you for sharing the recognition of the soldier and the soldier’s family. May we honor the sacrifice by working for peace so no more are lost.