PDX Funeral Detail May 12th
We had just landed on flt834 from HNL on 5/12, when we saw emergency crews with their lights flashing near the terminal. Wasn't sure what it was..perhaps a training exercise? Was quite surprised/puzzled when we parked right next to them. The lady next to me figured out it was a funeral detail meeting the plane. It then made sense...I had seen a Sgt in a formal uniform shaking our pilots hand before we had loaded in HNL...he was probably the escort.
I'm in my 60's but, like so many, had never witnessed this before...Several of us just off the plane solemnly watched from inside the terminal as they unloaded the casket. Having just visited Pearl Harbor this was especially meaningful,seeing this. Someone later said it was a Korean vet. I found out it was a 17yr old soldier, Cpl. Ben L. Brown or Oregon, who died within a few weeks of being deployed and had been identified thru DNA a month or so ago. And he was from one county over in Oregon from where I grew up. Puts whatever concerns or whining we do on this blog in perspective. Welcome home soldier.