Fw: A Memorial Day Story

This just in, another story of air crews being most human and helpful!!
(Format changed to 'Plain Text' for clarity and size)

----- Original Message -----
From: Jim Solomon
Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2019 12:19 PM

Begin forwarded message:
Subject: A Memorial Day Story
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...
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
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. 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!!!!