Posted on 09/26/2005 6:23:52 AM PDT by cwiz24
When Delta Flight 1880 landed late Saturday at Logan International Airport, the pilot went on the intercom to make a request of the passengers preparing to grab their carry-on bags: Sit for a moment and honor a fallen soldier.
''The pilot said, 'We have a hero on this flight and sadly, he isn't with us, but his mother is escorting his remains,' " said Barbara Bell, sister of Sergeant Pierre A. Raymond, 28, an Army reservist from Lawrence who died Tuesday in Germany after being wounded in Iraq.
The normal bustle of an emptying airplane immediately ceased, she said.
''He went on to say that 'a sergeant from the Army is escorting them as well', and then [the pilot] thanked him for doing what he did and for keeping us safe and free."
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
I love how the Boston Globe feels it necessary to put hero in quotation marks. Classy.
Something happened to my computer screen. It just started getting all blurry.
From now on I suggest all FReepers refer to the Boston Globe as a "newspaper".
I hope I'm never a passenger on a plane when such a situation occurs. It would be impossible to maintain my composure. Even reading about it is steaming up my glasses.
I would love to thank him for this loving and resectful gesture, for his kindness to the soldier's mom and for his understanding of exactly why this hero sacrificed his life.
This pilot is an A-grade American.
I just saw that. How disgusting. Yet somehow I doubt that they've ever referred to Cindy Sheehan as a "mother," even though her claim to the title, through her actions, is tenuous at best.
The depth of the divide between Sgt Raymond and those losers on Saturday is beyond words.
The quislings wouldn't know bravery if it bit them in the ass.
Considering that most people I know, when a plane lands, knock each other over to get off -- this is rather extraordinary.
God rest the soul of Sergeant Raymond, may He bring comfort to the family.
And kudos to the crew and passengers -- for honoring a fallen hero.
The editorial board of the Globe saves the unequivocal term hero for folks they consider "real" heroes, such as Ted Kennedy. /sarcasm
I fly Delta and I salute their pilots for taking the time to make that announcement. The last few times I flew the pilots recognized active duty troops on board coming home and the cabin filled with applause. I hope the other air caeeiers are doing the same
caeeiers = carriers
I wish I could shake that pilots hand.
I watched yesterday's rally on C-Cpan. Gold star family after family got up to the microphone, talked about their lost brother, sister, father, son or daughter and how they died for a noble cause, and how they supported what we are doing in Iraq and Afganistan. As one poster said he went from Kleenex to TP to Bounty.
I'm surprised you don't hear of more carriers doing this, considering (I think I'm right here) many commercial pilots got their start flying for the military. Someone correct me if I'm wrong on that point...
Picky, Picky! Everyone makes mistakes.
>>Something happened to my computer screen. It just started getting all blurry<<
Mine too!
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