THE ORIGINAL DELTA HONOR GUARD: Honor to whom honor is due.
In 2005, a close friend and coworker observed a female Marine saluting a flag-draped coffin as it moved down the conveyer belt from an MD-88 aircraft one evening. It was a packed flight and a multitude of suitcases were strewn on the ground around belt loader. The transfer drivers were busy collecting the luggage to ensure it made it to the next destinations on time. But none of them stopped working the baggage to show respect to the saluting Marine or the hero in coffin.
My friend, who is retired Navy, went over to speak to the Marine after the body had been placed in a cart. She was tearful. The body was her brother. He had been killed in an ambush protecting her and other Marines in a supply chain attack. My friend enlisted my help to design a plan to make sure a disrespectful scene like that never happened again on the Delta ramp.
We worked to write procedures that explained what we wanted to accomplish, how it could be streamlined to aviod impacting our service levels, and get permission from Delta leadership to form an Honor Guard. Soon, a band of my coworkers (most were veterans) and I began to welcome home with honor many soldiers, marines, airmen, and sailors who had lost their lives on the battlefield.
I am grateful to Delta Air Lines leadership for supporting our efforts. I’m thankful for a man I proudly call friend, Tom Schenk, for seeing the need to show respect, and taking a stand to make sure it happened. Time out of the operation for Guard duty was minimal—even though at times there were so many remains arriving we simply couldn’t meet them all.
The Delta Honor Guard was the most exhausting yet exhilirating and meaningful work I have ever performed. I wept openly with families on the Atlanta ramp both day and sometimes late into the night. I will never forget a Marine, tears streaming down his face, grateful we honored he brother, while a devastated young wife with an infant in arms and somber parents stood by helplessly a few feet away. I am still deeply moved as I recall one escort, an Airman, who hugged me after one service. I feared he might crush me—even though one of his arms was broken. He wept out loud as he kept on saying to me, “Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!” for praying for him and his friend, and his friend's family.
The most sobering service for me was escorted by a Air Force Colonel. When I finished praying, and after the Honor Guard detail had turned and marched away, he thanked me and confided that this was the body of the first Chaplain killed in the Iraq war. I was numb as he spoke of MY courage to pray openly for the fallen, for him, and also the family of the fallen. I quietly replied, “Colonel, the apostle Paul once commanded us, to show "honor to whom honor is due; tribute to whom tribute," so I am sad for his loved ones, but joyful that I have this moment to salute those who are worthy of respect and honor.”
As the Chaplain’s body and Colonel began to drive away toward the last leg of their final journey, I did as usual and saluted that flag and coffin until it was out of sight. But suddenly the Colonel motioned the driver to stop. He stepped out of the tug's cab, straightened himself, snapped to attention, and saluted me.
As moments passed, I became quite uncomfortable when I realized he was waiting for ME to end the salute first. I was outranked in every way. I have never been so humbled. These are the kinds of exemplary people who protect us from evil ones, they are "ministers of God taking out vengeance on evil doers" and are worthy of honor and our respect. They chose to place their lives on the alter for our freedom.
How could I begin to erase these and so many other scenes from my mind? I am grateful that almost twenty years after our first service, Delta has maintained what we started and still honors our fallen heros.
I salute those who served and continue to serve our country in the military. How can one properly thank someone who gave their life?
I have included the prayer I prayed, spoken at every service I officiated. I want to thank Brigadier General Ward (US Army, retired) for attending at least one of our services, and for his encouragement. General Ward suggested I include the escorts in my prayer, "As their job is most difficult." From that day forward, it was in every prayer:
Lord, you said of yourself, “Greater love has no one than this: than to lay down one's life for one's friends.”
This friend we honor today is your creation, child, and servant— Who gave his last full measure of devotion to our nation and you. He gave all for his friends. Receive his soul, now, into everlasting peace and rest.
You are close to the brokenhearted and grief-stricken. So we ask that you comfort his family and friends, and these witnesses In both this hour and beyond.
Be with this escort in his difficult journey That he may perform his duty with courage and strength. And be with us that we may give proper honor and tribute to whom it is due.
Amen.
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