Airline
Captain.............
'Yes', she said.
'Is there an escort?' I asked.
'Yes, I've already
assigned him a seat'.
'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...
come to the Flight Deck. You can board him early," I said...
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 attendant’s 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.
in the flight attendant’s 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.
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.'
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:
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 is under your feet in the cargo hold.
Escorting him today is Army Sergeant XXXXXXX. 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.'
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 is under your feet in the cargo hold.
Escorting him today is Army Sergeant XXXXXXX. 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.
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.
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.
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.
'Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands.
Protect them as
they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts
they perform for us in our time of need... In Jesus Name, Amen.'
they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts
they perform for us in our time of need... In Jesus Name, Amen.'
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!!!
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!!!!
forget!!!!
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