Hats Off To Delta Airlines

[+Dave 2,318]

Our Command Chief just sent this out. Thought I would share it.

 

 

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Thought you might find this interesting. I didn't know about it until the

 

other day.

 

 

I was commuting home from JFK on Delta Airlines on Friday and was on a

 

layover between flights in Atlanta . I was looking out the window of the

 

terminal at the dreary day and the ramp area when I noticed this honor guard

 

practicing for the arrival of a flight. This service is a brainchild of

 

Delta employees who put it together and volunteer to do it on their own

 

time. They meet incoming flights that are carrying servicemen home for

 

burial and provide honor guard services during the unloading of the body.

 

 

This is not a loose operation. These people are all very serious about what

 

they do. As I watched them practice, their leader drilled them and

 

corrected any minor deviation in position or the angle that they held the

 

colors. Special safety vests were worn by the honor guard, as well as the

 

other half-dozen or so ramp personnel who served the planes arrival. They

 

had some sort of design on the back, similar to a defense department logo,

 

but I couldn't see it well enough to be sure.

 

 

After about half an hour, the plane blocked in at the gate. The military

 

escort and family members were deplaned onto the ramp and met by a Delta

 

ground service manager. There was a younger lady (about 30 or so) and an

 

older lady. I assumed them to be the wife and mother, but don't know.

 

The escort, in dress uniform, carried the folded American flag. The baggage

 

cart with the American flag design was custom-manufactured by the Delta

 

machine shop in Atlanta , again on the employees own time.

 

 

The last picture and its closeup show the casket being unloaded to the

 

waiting cart and the honor ceremony. Naturally, I couldn't hear what was

 

being said, if anything. Notice the captain and first officer standing at

 

attention to the right of the picture. Once the casket was loaded, the

 

family members were taken to the terminal in a ramp vehicle. The military

 

escort rode in the cab of the tug pulling the casket cart.

 

 

I found the whole thing very moving. Well done to the Delta employees

 

 

 

 

Bob

 

 

 

[+hgbn 91]

Respect

[Viper6 3]

Very Moving Indeed.

 

 

[Nesher 629]

I'm getting goose bumps from reading the letter..

good job by the company's employees

 

 

[Ruggbutt 45]

S!

[UnknownPilot 33]

Delta

[ONETINSOLDIER 2]

hats off, indeed,

+1

[OvS 8]

hats off, indeed,

+1

 

People that fly now have no clue that the MANY if not all US Airlines were derived from the Military, or personnel from the military, hence why the airlines use to have pride and respect and were run with precision.

 

Unfortunately, we've gotten away from that... it's good to see this.

 

.

 

OvS

[Dave63 13]

Fly Delta Jets

[Gromit 0]

Class act.

 

They'll get my business whenever possible...

[DWCAce 19]

Good to read that some people get the message and care. Every once in a while we have a fallen service member come through our FBO. The flag goes to half-mast and we make as much room as possible in one of the hangars for the transfer to take place.