Editor’s note: Rick Sharkey, who comments here, offered this poignant story about flying home with a fallen soldier on Nov. 2. It appeared in the comments today below my post yesterday about the Grass Valley soldier who died in Afghanistan. It is worthy of a separate post and represents the quality of commentary here. Thank you Rick.
On Tuesday night, November 2, I flew home from a business trip from Charlotte, NC to SFO. As I entered the aircraft to take my seat, I noticed an Army Staff Sergeant sitting in Row 1, Seat 1 in First Class. What was notable was his uniform. He was not wearing camo fatigues which you frequently see but a very impressive looking “dress” uniform covered with ribbons and medals.
As we taxied out for takeoff, the pilot came on the loudspeaker to acknowledge “Staff Sergeant Anderson” in First Class. Sergeant Anderson’s mission on this flight was to accompany the casket of a fallen U.S. soldier who was heading “back home”. SFO was the final destination of this trip. The pilot asked that when we landed in San Francisco, the passengers of this completely full flight allow Sergeant Anderson the opportunity and courtesy of deplaning before everyone else.
As we taxied to the gate at SFO, the pilot again asked the passengers to wait until Sergeant Anderson could deplane first. I was sitting in a window seat near the wing on the right side of the aircraft. I could easily see the tarmac. Awaiting us at the gate was the hearse to pick up the casket and a full Army honor guard to accompany the casket to the funeral home.
The flag-draped casket was the first item to be unloaded from the cargo hold in the plane. Sergeant Anderson and the honor guard snapped to attention and saluted the casket as it slowly came down the conveyor belt to the waiting team of soldiers (men and women) who carefully carried, with precise steps, the casket to the hearse.
The entire crew of tarmac workers all stopped their work, lined up in a row, and placed their hands on their chests to acknowledge the casket as it was unloaded from the plane and transferred to the hearse.
Many passengers and the entire crew were lined up at the individual windows of the plane to silently watch this process. You could hear a pin drop on that entire plane. There wasn’t a dry eye amongst the men and women watching the very solemn process unfolding before us.
If you saw a movie on HBO earlier this summer called “Coming Home”, you’ll recognize what I’m describing here. The HBO movie was based on the true story of a fallen Marine coming home to his final resting place in a small Wyoming town. It is an emotional movie to watch.
However, seeing this process/ceremony “in person” is a very different experience. Regardless of one’s opinion of the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan you will be affected emotionally when you witness this unfolding on the tarmac in front of you.
I learned the service members who accompany the fallen service members home are all volunteers. Imagine for a moment the privilege, honor, and responsibility that assignment entails. Every week these trips are being made across the country. When will these assignments ever end?
I have nothing but respect for those amongst us who volunteer for service in our military. Unfortunately, each week, some of those volunteers make their final trip home in the cargo hold of an aircraft accompanied by a fellow service member.
I believe, regardless of your personal opinions of the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan, the volunteers who serve in all branches of our military deserve our recognition, respect, and appreciation for their efforts and sacrifices.
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The snow already is falling in our yard in Nevada City as of 9 p.m. Friday, covering the ground.
