Waiting for my fight today, I was staring out of the window of the airport terminal watching the planes take off and land.

Right in front of me was a United Airlines 737, and there was an Army honor guard standing at attention and saluting as a military coffin was being unloaded.

All of the baggage handlers, drivers, and grounds people had stopped working and were standing still in respect of the deceased soldier.

There were also several police officers waiting to the side, saluting.

I could plainly see the deceased soldier's parents holding each other, crying, and a woman next to them who was either his wife, girlfreind, or maybe even sister.

The United Airlines employees with me in the lounge told me this is the first time they had ever seen a casket being unloaded from an airplane.

Being a Saturday, there were just myself and another man in the Red Carpet Club here at the airport, and we watched the event unfold along with two United Airlines employees.

I have to tell you it was a profoundly sad and moving experience.

All four of us teared up.

I am at a loss for words, but it sure brings the war home.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Sug, it is truly moving and puts things into perspective, my trip to Walter Reed did that for me. When I was younger it was just body count and it was back to business but I look at things differently now.

I don't have much to say on the topic because there is so much to say, if that makes any sense.

Keep politics OUT of this thread, I will delete any posts that go in that direction.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I'm at a loss for words.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Thank you.

It was a deeply personal and painful moment to watch.

It puts into persepective the sacfrices that our service men and women are making (the ultimate sacrifice), and the effect that it has on their families.

I almost felt a sense of guilt watching the coffin unloaded and seeing the reaction of the deceased soldier's family.

Yet, in a strange way, I'm glad that I was able to observe the event, and I can't articulate or explain exactly why.

I think I'll remember this event for as long as I live.

__________________
Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Richard D. Winters: [real life interview with Winters where he quotes Mike Ranney on how he answered a question his grandson once asked him] I treasure my remark to a grandson who asked, "Grandpa, were you a hero in the war?" "No", I answered, "But I served in a company of heroes".

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

We owe all our soldiers a debt of grattitude. Especially the ones who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
regardless of any beliefs they were called and served honoreably.
God bless them.

As a member of the Patriot Guard I see it a lot and it is truly humbling.
I get an e-mail whenever a soldier comes home to the state of Florida in a coffin. I've been getting a lot in the past few weeks. It can't be any good over there.

Danny

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1984 300SD Turbo Diesel 150,000 miles

OBK member #23

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(='.'=) This is Bunny. Copy and paste bunny into your
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I was on the airplane next to a guy who lives in Tuscon, AZ, and he told me that 11 former students of the local high school have died in Iraq or Afghanistan. It blew me away.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

A military funeral at Arlington had the same effect on me. The folding of the flag, everyone standing perfectly at attention, it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Then came the piercing rifle volleys. It was emotionally overwhelming and draining.

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1985 380SE Blue/Blue - 230,000 miles
2012 Subaru Forester 5-speed
2005 Toyota Sienna
2004 Chrysler Sebring convertible
1999 Toyota Tacoma

Beautifully written, Paul. Thanks.

Yes, beautiful writing and well thought out.

The price paid by the fallen soldiers and their families is very great.

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Thi should also get our younger members (high school, college age) to start thinking about a career in the VA system. Lots of jobs exist at every local VA ranging from administration to lab technicians to physical therapy, nursing, research, doctors, orderlies, insurance, mobility, transportation of patients, rehabilitation, prosthetics, patient education, and especially in the department concerning post traumatic stress disorders, etc. If you can't do any of the above it would be nice to get some of our youth involved in plain ole volunteering. Its amazing how much an ex service man will appreciate someone who takes the time out to just talk to them while their stay at the hospital.