Solemn flight delivers Airman to final repose
Since 01-29-07
From:
Waspscpo@aol.com [mailto:Waspscpo@aol.com]
Sent: Friday, January 19, 2007 3:09 PM
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Subject: Solemn flight delivers airman to final repose
Here is an article from Navy Times this week
that should make us all proud to be an American and to be very lucky to be
living in this great country of ours.
http://www.navytimes.com/issues/stories/0-NAVYPAPER-2467780.php
Solemn flight delivers airman to final repose
Opinion/Back Talk
By Gary Blied - For Navy Times
January 22, 2007 Issue
On Dec. 3, I was the co-pilot for American Airlines Flight 1904, traveling from
Chicago to Miami.We were informed at the gate that the remains of Master Sgt.
Shawn Richardson would be loaded on our flight. He was a 17-year Air Force
veteran and had been killed in a motorcycle accident while serving in South
Korea. I went down to the ramp and found the long box appropriately stationed
off to the side in a luggage cart.
The curtains on the cart were pulled. It was my honor to spend a few moments in
prayer with him.The captain and I finished our preflight duties and then went
back down to the ramp and checked in with the crew chiefs to observe the loading
of Master Sgt. Richardson. We departed almost an hour late because of our late
arrival into Chicago. We called for push, and it was immediately granted.
Normally, there’s a wait.
We called ground for taxi, and again — immediately granted. Normally, there’s a
wait. We were cleared onto the runway and for an immediate takeoff. Passing
through about 25,000 feet, we were further cleared direct to Ormond Beach, which
is the first fix on the arrival into Miami. That’s basically a thousand-mile
straight line and the most direct clearance I’ve ever received to Miami.
Not a word was said — but people were watching out for us. The flight to and
landing in Miami were uneventful until we went to turn off the runway. The tower
asked us to proceed a little farther down, where an escort was waiting for us.
We did as instructed, and a Miami-Dade police cruiser met us on the taxiway. It
escorted our Boeing 757 to the D terminal. The entire north ramp had been
cleared of all aircraft.
I’d never seen that, either. As we approached the ramp, we noticed the lights.
There were at least a half-dozen firetrucks, no fewer than 15 police cars and
countless other vehicles. They were all parked in rows with their lights
flashing. As we taxied our aircraft to the gate, the firetrucks saluted our
arrival with crossed streams of water shooting over the aircraft.
My first seven years of service were in the Air Force Crash Fire Rescue
Department. There is no higher salute from the fire department. We parked the
aircraft and shut down. After our checklists, Capt. Jeff Wallace and I went to
the ramp level and observed the unpacking of the casket, then the dressing with
a flag. It was accepted by the bearer team of members of the Miami-Dade Police
Department and Air Force honor guard.
After the “present arms” order — when military and former military personnel
render salutes and civilians put their hands over their hearts — and the “order
arms” order, when the salutes were finished, I noticed our jet. As I looked up
from the ramp level, I saw a somber face in every window. Not one of our
passengers had moved until our fallen airman had departed the aircraft.
When the procession left the airport, there were two cruisers in front of the
hearse, and I have no idea how many behind. It was worthy of a presidential
motorcade and a fitting and probably all too uncommon show of love and respect
for one of our fallen. And in case I haven’t mentioned this — it was 1:30 a.m.
on a Sunday; we were almost two hours late. Our reception had probably been
waiting for hours, and I would bet that most of the people on our ramp were not
on the clock.
Every now and then you see it: the silent majority that makes this country the
best in the world. I was so proud that night. Proud that my fellow citizens on
every level worked to get Master Sgt. Richardson to his final repose. Proud of
all the people who showed up on the ramp late that Saturday night and waited
hours into Sunday morning to show their respect.
Proud of our passengers who recognized a greater purpose than getting off the
jet. And proud that my company, American Airlines, knows how to handle this
situation with humility and honor. It was my privilege to be witness to this
homecoming. I would hope that all the service people who read this know that you
are in our prayers.
God bless you for the work that you do. We are all proud of you — what I
witnessed that night proves it.
The author retired from the Air Force as a major with 22 years of service. He
has been a pilot for American Airlines since October 1991.
Discuss
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Contributed,
YNCS Don Harrribine, USN(ret)