_____
A powerful message. Wish everyone in the U.S could witnesss this. Thank God
for the U.S. Marines.
John Smith, Major USMC Retired
The Returning...
Thomas Mouch Sr. Mgr., Intl. BD
Asia-Pacific Raytheon Company
Last week, while traveling to Chicago on business, I noticed a Marine
sergeant in Dress Blues traveling with a folded flag, but I did not put two
and two together. After we'd boarded our flight, I turned to the sergeant,
who'd been invited to sit in First Class (and was seated across the aisle
from me), and inquired if he was heading home.
"No sir" he responded.
"Heading out?" I asked.
"No. I'm escorting a Marine home."
"Going to pick him up?"
"No. He is with me right now. He was killed in Iraq. I'm taking him home to
his family."
The realization of what he had been asked to do hit me like a punch to the
gut. It was an honor for him. He told me that, although he didn't know the
marine, he had delivered the news of his passing to the marine's family and
felt as if he did know them after so many conversations in so few days.
I turned back to him, extended my hand, and said,"Thank you.Thank you for
doing what you do so my family and I can do what we do."
Upon landing in Chicago, the pilot stopped short of the gate and made the
following announcement over the intercom. "Ladies and gentlemen, I would
like to note that we have had the honor of having Sergeant Steeley of the
United States Marine Corps join us on this flight. He is escorting a fallen
comrade back home to his family. I ask that you please remain in your seats
when we open the forward door so as to allow Sergeant Steeley to deplane and
receive his fellow soldier. We will then turn off the seat belt sign."
Without a sound, all went as requested. I noticed the sergeant saluting the
casket as it was brought off the plane, and his action made me realize two
things: I am proud to be an American, and I will continue to fly on American
Airlines because it respects what our soldiers do every day. So here's a
public thank-you to our military for doing what you do so we can live the
way we do.
Here is the picture that was awarded first place at the picture of the year
international this year. Very very touching photo.
First Place
First Place
Todd Heisler The Rocky Mountain News
When 2nd Lt. James Cathey's body arrived at the RenoAirport, Marines climbed
into the cargo hold of the plane and draped the flag over his casket as
passengers watched the family gather on the tarmac. During the arrival of
another Marine's casket last year at Denver InternationalAirport, Major
Steve Beck described the scene as one of the most powerful in the process:
"See the people in the windows? They'll sit right there in the plane,
watching those Marines. You gotta wonder what's going through their minds,
knowing that they're on the plane that brought him home," he said. "They're
going to remember being on that plane for the rest of their lives. They're
going to remember bringing that Marine home. And they should."
------ End of Forwarded Message
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