Popular Post Gene Howe Posted January 9, 2018 Popular Post Report Share Posted January 9, 2018 Subject: Fw: AN AIRLINE CAPTAIN'S REPORT.....a must read The American flag does not fly because the wind moves past it..... The American flag flies from the last breath of each military member who has died serving it." AIRLINE CAPTAIN - You will not regret reading this one. I Promise!! My lead flight attendant came to me and said, "We have an H.R. on this flight." (H.R. stands for Human Remains.) "Are they military?" I asked. 'Yes', she said 'Is there an escort?' I asked. 'Yes, I've already assigned him a seat'. 'Would you please tell him to come to the Flight Deck. You can board him early," I said... l A short while later a young army sergeant entered the flight deck. He was the image of the perfectly dressed soldier. He introduced himself and I asked him about his soldier. The escorts of these fallen soldiers talk about them as if they are still alive and still with us. 'My soldier is on his way back to Virginia,' he said. He proceeded to answer my questions, but offered no words. I asked him if there was anything I could do for him and he said no. I told him that he had the toughest job in the military, and that I appreciated the work that he does for the families of our fallen soldiers. The first officer and I got up out of our seats to shake his hand. He left the Flight Deck to find his seat. We completed our preflight checks, pushed back and performed an uneventful departure. About 30 minutes into our flight, I received a call from the lead flight attendant in the cabin. 'I just found out the family of the soldier we are carrying, is also on board', she said. She then proceeded to tell me that the father, mother, wife and 2-year old daughter were escorting their son, husband, and father home. The family was upset because they were unable to see the container that the soldier was in before we left. We were on our way to a major hub at which the family was going to wait four hours for the connecting flight home to Virginia. The father of the soldier told the flight attendant that knowing his son was below him in the cargo compartment and being unable to see him was too much for him and the family to bear. He had asked the flight attendant if there was anything that could be done to allow them to see him upon our arrival. The family wanted to be outside by the cargo door to watch the soldier being taken off the airplane. I could hear the desperation in the flight attendants voice when she asked me if there was anything I could do. 'I'm on it', I said. I told her that I would get back to her. Airborne communication with my company normally occurs in the form of e-mail like messages. I decided to bypass this system and contact my flight dispatcher directly on a secondary radio. There is a radio operator in the operations control center who connects you to the telephone of the dispatcher. I was in direct contact with the dispatcher. I explained the situation I had on board with the family and what it was the family wanted. He said he understood and that he would get back to me. Two hours went by and I had not heard from the dispatcher. We were going to get busy soon and I needed to know what to tell the family. I sent a text message asking for an update. I saved the return message from the dispatcher and the following is the text: 'Captain, sorry it has taken so long to get back to you. There is policy on this now, and I had to check on a few things. Upon your arrival a dedicated escort team will meet the aircraft. The team will escort the family to the ramp and plane side. A van will be used to load the remains with a secondary van for the family. The family will be taken to their departure area and escorted into the terminal, where the remains can be seen on the ramp. It is a private area for the family only. When the connecting aircraft arrives, the family will be escorted onto the ramp and plane side to watch the remains being loaded for the final leg home. Captain, most of us here in flight control are veterans. Please pass our condolences on to the family. Thanks. I sent a message back, telling flight control thanks for a good job. I printed out the message and gave it to the lead flight attendant to pass on to the father. The lead flight attendant was very thankful and told me, 'You have no idea how much this will mean to them.' Things started getting busy for the descent, approach and landing. After landing, we cleared the runway and taxied to the ramp area. The ramp is huge with 15 gates on either side of the alleyway. It is always a busy area with aircraft maneuvering every which way to enter and exit. When we entered the ramp and checked in with the ramp controller, we were told that all traffic was being held for us. 'There is a team in place to meet the aircraft', we were told. It looked like it was all coming together, then I realized that once we turned the seat belt sign off, everyone would stand up at once and delay the family from getting off the airplane. As we approached our gate, I asked the copilot to tell the ramp controller, we were going to stop short of the gate to make an announcement to the passengers. He did that and the ramp controller said, 'Take your time.' I stopped the aircraft and set the parking brake. I pushed the public address button and said: 'Ladies and gentleman, this is your Captain speaking: I have stopped short of our gate to make a special announcement. We have a passenger on board who deserves our honor and respect. His name is Private XXXXXX, a soldier who recently lost his life. Private XXXXXX's under your feet in the cargo hold. Escorting him today is Army Sergeant XXXXXX. Also, on board are his father, mother, wife, and daughter. Your entire flight crew is asking for all passengers to remain in their seats to allow the family to exit the aircraft first. Thank you.' We continued the turn to the gate, came to a stop and started our shutdown procedures. A couple of minutes later I opened the cockpit door. I found the two forward flight attendants crying, something you just do not see. I was told that after we came to a stop, every passenger on the aircraft stayed in their seats, waiting for the family to exit the aircraft. When the family got up and gathered their things, a passenger slowly started to clap his hands. Moments later, more passengers joined in and soon the entire aircraft was clapping. Words of 'God Bless You', I'm sorry, thank you, be proud, and other kind words were uttered to the family as they made their way down the aisle and out of the airplane. They were escorted down to the ramp to finally be with their loved one. Many of the passengers disembarking thanked me for the announcement I had made. They were just words, I told them, I could say them over and over again, but nothing I say will bring back that brave soldier. I respectfully ask that all of you reflect on this event and the sacrifices that millions of our men and women have made to ensure our freedom and safety in these United States of AMERICA. Foot note: I know everyone who reads this will have tears in their eyes, including me. Prayer chain for our Military.. Don't break it! Please send this on after a short prayer for our service men and women. Don't break it! They die for me and mine and you and yours and deserve our honor and respect. Prayer Request: When you receive this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our troops around the world... There is nothing attached. Just send this to people in your address book. Do not let it stop with you. Of all the gifts you could give a Marine, Soldier, Sailor, Airman, and others deployed in harm's way, prayer is the very best one. GOD BLESS YOU!!! Thank you all who have served, or are serving. We will not forget!!!! hatuffej, HARO50, HandyDan and 8 others 5 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stick486 Posted January 9, 2018 Report Share Posted January 9, 2018 thank you Gene... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene Howe Posted January 9, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2018 You are welcome, Stick. hatuffej 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lew Posted January 9, 2018 Report Share Posted January 9, 2018 Thanks, Gene. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene Howe Posted January 9, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2018 You are welcome, Lew. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Morris Posted January 9, 2018 Report Share Posted January 9, 2018 A wonderful reality check to begin the day Gene, thank you for posting this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene Howe Posted January 9, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2018 Your welcome, John. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chips N Dust Posted January 9, 2018 Report Share Posted January 9, 2018 Thank you, Gene. I am one of those with tears in my eyes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene Howe Posted January 9, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2018 Same here, Kelly. Your welcome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schnewj Posted January 9, 2018 Report Share Posted January 9, 2018 13 minutes ago, Gene Howe said: Same here, Kelly. Your welcome Thank you, Gene. this story only illustrates that a fallen soldier is not the only one who has sacrificed more then should be expected. John Morris, Gene Howe and Cal 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene Howe Posted January 9, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2018 Bill, so true. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cal Posted January 10, 2018 Report Share Posted January 10, 2018 Thank you Gene Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al B Posted January 10, 2018 Report Share Posted January 10, 2018 A sad but beautiful story. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene Howe Posted January 10, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2018 Your welcome Cal and Al. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
p_toad Posted January 10, 2018 Report Share Posted January 10, 2018 At least they didn't have to go through this type of thing: "RITTMAN, OH - The Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery in Rittman is the final resting place of thousands of patriots who served and defended their country in times of war and peace. Veterans who make the pilgrimage to the cemetery to pay their respects to their comrades-in-arms say that one of the most powerful tributes that can be paid to service men and women is a battlefield cross, made up of a helmet, a rifle and a pair of boots. Vietnam Veteran Bill Overton told Fox 8 News, "It's a great honor. That's your comrades recognizing you, what you did, who you are. You're a brother, you're a member of this military." Overton and other members of his VFW Post in Strongsville were outraged when they learned that the Department of Veterans Affairs, which runs the cemetery, had removed a battlefield cross because of a complaint that it included the depiction of a realistic looking gun. Fox 8 spoke with the administrator of the cemetery, who told us that the removal of the battlefield cross was as a result of "guidance" from Veterans Affairs headquarters in Washington. The policy applies to all cemeteries operated by Veterans Affairs. "I think it's absolutely ridiculous, they don't know anything about our country, our history, they don't even know why they have the right to complain about it. The reason why they have the right is these guys right here. That's why they have the right to do it," said Overton. When asked if the banning of the battlefield cross would apply to monuments as well, the administrator of the cemetery told us that the policy only applied to "three-dimensional" depictions of guns. Oddly enough, the battlefield cross can be displayed during a veteran's burial, but must be removed after the ceremony. Veterans say the rules drafted by bureaucrats are an affront to those who served their country and have no place on the hallowed grounds of a National Cemetery. "I have yet to meet the Soldier, Sailor, Marine, Airman, Coast Guard that isn't upset over this," said Overton. "They're trying to change our history, and we're not going to let them do it.'" Yeah, i know it's fox news, but seriously folks? Gene Howe, Cal, HARO50 and 1 other 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene Howe Posted January 10, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2018 @p_toad that is an outrage! p_toad and Cal 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cal Posted January 10, 2018 Report Share Posted January 10, 2018 Is this a new policy? Shameful... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
p_toad Posted January 10, 2018 Report Share Posted January 10, 2018 I have since read that the bigwigs have rescinded the stupidity (but apparently they can't really fix stupid). Hope that's the end of that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Wilson Posted January 10, 2018 Report Share Posted January 10, 2018 On 1/8/2018 at 9:24 PM, Gene Howe said: I know everyone who reads this will have tears in their eyes I know I do - Thanks, Gene, I will definitely pass this along. God Bless ALL out troops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene Howe Posted January 11, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2018 So did I Fred. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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