An ordinary Delta flight from Atlanta to Los Angeles Thursday turned into a sincere occasion of gratitude for the flight staff, and passengers on board for recognizing a fallen soldier who was being transported The Epoch Times reported.
"I just addressed the escort. It is a sworn oath to bring home, to the family, the fallen," a military officer who stepped onto the plane when the plane arrived at its gate to show his gratitude The Times reported. "Today you all did that, you are all escorts, escorts of the heart."
The military escort of soldiers were the first to exit the aircraft, followed by passengers, many of which stayed to look out the window to witness the Honor Guard and family take the casket off the aircraft.
According to The Times, a woman believed to be the soldier's mother or wife approached the casket, and laid her hand on it.
"As you can imagine, everyone was silent, no one got up, not even that person from the back row who pretends they don't speak English so they can be first off the plane," one passenger said in a posting on travel blog Johnny Jet. "I'm sure most had meteor-sized lumps in their throats and tears in their eyes like I did. As soon as I saw her reach out to put her hand on her baby's casket, I walked away. This ordinary flight became extraordinary and is one that I will never forget."
The passenger then used the blog as a medium to further show his appreciation.
"Thank you to all the military who protect our beautiful country and let us live the lives we are able to lead," he said. "Without you we would be nothing. And thank you to the Honor Guard for making sure these fallen soldiers, warriors and heroes are not treated like just any piece of luggage as they used to, but rather with the care and respect they so rightly deserve."
