Fallen Heroes

Standing in formation

Tonight I attended The Fallen Hero ceremony.  It is a very solemn ceremony dedicated to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.  We were told there would be three; it was five.  The ceremony started at 2100, the flightline was very dark with only a few lights and of course, it was a cold, drizzling rain.  As the five humvees drove up containing the caskets, a soldier led the way.  First came the colors, then came the commanders and finally the fallen heroes.  They were marched passed all of us in formation, saluting them as they were carried through the back of the C-17 that would carry them home. 

Color Guard

Preparing for home

We entered the plane to give our final rendering of respects.  The chaplain says a few words and  a prayer and reads each of the names.  Tonight, five husbands, brothers, sons will fly home one last time to their grieving families.  These are five we couldn't save.  Each of us approaches the casket as a group, renderes a solemn salute and kneels.  We each say a private thank you to these men.  We rise and render another solemn salute, left face and move onto the next one.  This continues until the back of the plane is empty and the five coffins remain...quietly. 

Fallen Hero

Tonight I will say a prayer before I go to bed for each of these five men and their families.

The pictures I have posted are not of the ceremony I attended but of another previous.  Sadly, we have the opportunity to attend them...a lot.