Escort To A Fallen Hero

[HARDCORE]

This was forwarded to me! Thought you guys might like to read it!

Mrs. Hardcore
____________________________________________


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 fours
> years, I have never been more proud 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