lsbets
02-17-2009, 05:56 PM
Last week I heard about a soldier from the DFW area, SGT Peter Courcy, who was killed in Afghanistan by an IED. Everytime I hear a story like that I shudder, because that easily could have been me on any number of occasions. I heard on the news last night that his body was being flown into the airport in Addison, TX this afternoon. I read about it this morning in the paper, and when I saw he was with the 101st (I was with the 101st in Iraq), I decided to go the airport to show respect for his service and support for his family.
The plane was scheduled to arrive at 12:25, and I got there about noon. I had to park about 1/2 mile away and walk because there was already a crowd of at least a couple of hundred. It was damp and dreary, pretty miserable weather to be outside. The first thing I noticed was two firetrucks with their ladders extended and a giant flag hanging between them. People kept arriving after I got there, and continued arriving until the plane landed.
The plane taxied through the arch formed by the firetrucks and came to a halt. As soon as the plane landed, the crowd was absolutely silent. All the normal chatter of people stopped and nothing could be heard. An honor guard from Ft. Hood marched out to the plane to meet the casket and carry it to the hearse. Seeing the flag draped casket come off the plane was sobering to say the least.
His family, about 30 or so people, met the casket as it came off the plane and had a moment of prayer. I looked around at the crowd. My best guess is there were about 500 or so people - young, old, men, and women - who had no relationship to the family but merely came to show respect.
After the casket was loaded into the hearse and the family got in the waiting limo and their cars, the motorcade left for the funeral home. The Patriot Guard Riders led the way - at least 50 bikes with large American flags waving, full police escort, and probably close to 50 cars in addition to the hearse and limo. It was a hero's procession, and well deserved.
It is easy to forget what is right and good in America with the political leaders we have. But seeing that many people, total strangers who never knew the fallen, come out on a dreary, rainy, windy day to show respect to the SGT Courcy reminds me what is good in America- the people.
The plane was scheduled to arrive at 12:25, and I got there about noon. I had to park about 1/2 mile away and walk because there was already a crowd of at least a couple of hundred. It was damp and dreary, pretty miserable weather to be outside. The first thing I noticed was two firetrucks with their ladders extended and a giant flag hanging between them. People kept arriving after I got there, and continued arriving until the plane landed.
The plane taxied through the arch formed by the firetrucks and came to a halt. As soon as the plane landed, the crowd was absolutely silent. All the normal chatter of people stopped and nothing could be heard. An honor guard from Ft. Hood marched out to the plane to meet the casket and carry it to the hearse. Seeing the flag draped casket come off the plane was sobering to say the least.
His family, about 30 or so people, met the casket as it came off the plane and had a moment of prayer. I looked around at the crowd. My best guess is there were about 500 or so people - young, old, men, and women - who had no relationship to the family but merely came to show respect.
After the casket was loaded into the hearse and the family got in the waiting limo and their cars, the motorcade left for the funeral home. The Patriot Guard Riders led the way - at least 50 bikes with large American flags waving, full police escort, and probably close to 50 cars in addition to the hearse and limo. It was a hero's procession, and well deserved.
It is easy to forget what is right and good in America with the political leaders we have. But seeing that many people, total strangers who never knew the fallen, come out on a dreary, rainy, windy day to show respect to the SGT Courcy reminds me what is good in America- the people.