A Fallen Hero Comes Home

[lcpd24]

> > > > Subject: A Fallen Hero Comes Home
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Please take the time to read the email below. It is a great, true
> > story.
> > > > The letter was written by Senior Investigator Jack Graham of the New
> > York
> > > > State Police to fellow members of the NY State Police and to the
> > Syracuse
> > > > Police who, on April 17, 2003, participated in a hastily planned
> > > ceremonial
> > > > escort for a soldier killed in Iraq. Feel free to pass this on.
These
> > are
> > > > the kinds of stories that make us proud to be an American.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > The abbreviation "SP", means "State Police", and it refers to a
> station.
> > > For
> > > > instance, SP Loudonville, NY.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > On Thursday, April 17, 2003, you participated in an escort detail
for
> > > > GREGORY P. HUXLEY JR who was killed in action in Iraq on April 6,
> 2003.
> > On
> > > > behalf of the entire Huxley family and from me, personally, I want
to
> > say
> > > > "Thank you very much." Your professionalism, dedication and
sincerity
> > > meant
> > > > so much to the Huxley family, that words cannot describe their
> feelings
> > at
> > > > this time.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > What most did not know was that the US Army had promised the family
> > > members
> > > > that they would be taken to Dover, Delaware to be present when their
> son
> > > > arrived from Iraq and there would be a full military ceremony in
Dover
> > for
> > > > GREGORY. Unfortunately, there was a communication problem and they
> were
> > > not
> > > > present during that ceremony.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Then they were informed that the body of their son was being flown
to
> > > > Syracuse and that the funeral director could pick up the "fallen
> > soldier"
> > > at
> > > > the cargo area of the airport and that somebody would help them
remove
> > the
> > > > casket from the cardboard shipping container for transport to
> Boonville,
> > > NY.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > The funeral director felt that unacceptable for a nineteen year old
> > young
> > > > man that gave his life for this country and for the freedom of so
many
> > > > others. As a family friend he contacted me to see if anything could
be
> > > done.
> > > > We now had six hours before GREGORY arrived in Syracuse.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Phone calls were made to SP North Syracuse and SGT Nick Harmatiuk
took
> > > over
> > > > from there. What you participated in and observed the rest of that
day
> > was
> > > > truly an outstanding display of what this agency can do in very
short
> > > time.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > What happened was just visually and emotionally overwhelming.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > The procession left SP North Syracuse led by eight Syracuse PD
> > > motorcycles,
> > > > followed by the hearse, four cars with family members and followed
by
> > ten
> > > > State Police and Syracuse PD cars. How ironic it was that when the
> > > > procession was traveling parallel to the runway, the plane carrying
> > > GREGORY
> > > > landed next to it. We were able to enter the planes cargo area and
> > remove
> > > > the shipping crate from the casket and drape the American flag over
> the
> > > > casket. When the casket traveled down the conveyor belt, fifteen New
> > York
> > > > State Troopers and the same amount of Syracuse Policemen lined the
> path
> > to
> > > > the awaiting hearse-all at attention. A hand salute was executed as
> six
> > > > State Troopers proudly bore the flag draped coffin to the hearse.
> After
> > a
> > > > short prayer, the family was given some time to welcome their son
> home.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > The entire airport was so quiet. I looked up at the concourse
windows
> > and
> > > > saw a hundred or more people. They were all standing, watching, with
> > their
> > > > hands over their hearts, saluting a young man that they did not
know.
> > > > Somehow they learned that a fallen soldier had come home and they
> wanted
> > > to
> > > > honor his sacrifice.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > The casket was then placed in the hearse and the procession left the
> > > airport
> > > > in the same fashion as we arrived, only this time with a young hero
> that
> > > our
> > > > hearts will never forget.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > The motorcade was escorted to the thruway entrance by the Syracuse
> > Police
> > > > Department's motorcycles. All traffic was stopped for the procession
> and
> > > we
> > > > headed east towards Boonville. After getting off the thruway, we
found
> > > that
> > > > every intersection that the procession encountered was controlled by
> > State
> > > > Troopers, allowing us a safe, unimpeded passage. At each
intersection,
> > the
> > > > State Trooper stood at attention, saluting the fallen soldier and
his
> > > > family, giving him and his family the respect that they deserved.
How
> > > > emotional that was to see and now to reflect on.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > When entering the Village of Boonville, the main street was
decorated
> > with
> > > > an infinite number of American Flags and yellow ribbons. As we
> > approached
> > > > the center of town, all of the church bells began to peal at once
> > > > recognizing and saluting Gregory's arrival. Hundreds of people
holding
> > > > American flags lined the street, some with their hand over their
heart
> > and
> > > > some weeping for GREGORY for what he sacrificed, for us and his
> country.
> > > As
> > > > we drove by the village park, the National Anthem was being played,
> for
> > > > GREGORY, and I think, for all of us.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > At the funeral home, eight veterans lifted the casket out of the
> hearse
> > > and
> > > > into the home with the family. GREGORY had returned home.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > GREGORY'S family said to me later that the images I have just
> described
> > > will
> > > > always be etched in their hearts, forever. But the one memory that
> will
> > > > always be there first, was of the State Troopers at the airport,
> > standing
> > > at
> > > > attention, saluting, with tears running down their cheeks for their
> > son, a
> > > > fallen soldier. A hero whom those Troopers never personally knew.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Our jobs take many different avenues in life. We hope that during
our
> > day
> > > or
> > > > shift that we have made a difference, a positive contribution. On
this
> > > > occasion you did just that. An entire family knows that you cared to
> do
> > > your
> > > > very best to honor their son. Their words and expressions told me
just
> > > that.
> > > > We made a difference yesterday, and we did it well.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > The rewards we receive for details like this one do not come from
> > anywhere
> > > > but from the heart. Take pride in what you accomplished, because It
> was
> > > > distinct and without equal in this Trooper's eye. I have had so many
> > good
> > > > things happen since I have been a State Trooper, but in those
> > twenty-four
> > > > years, I have never been more proud of the New York State Police as
I
> > was
> > > > yesterday- A fallen soldier, a hero, a son, a brother has finally
come
> > > home,
> > > > in grand deserving style, thanks to all of you.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Jack Graham
> > > >
> > > > Senior Investigator
> > > >
> > > > New York State Police
> > > >