Painful reminders...

[purduejake]

I am very fortunate to not have any loved ones serving in the armed forces at this time, so the war has always been a relatively distant thing for me... until recently when I started my new job here in Chicago.

As a supervisor of airport operations for a major airline, it is my responsibility to meet military escorts as they leave the aircraft. From that point, I escort him/her down to the ramp and to the back of the aircraft where the bodies are stored.

The process is surreal and very disturbing to me. A team of at least 4 people is assembled to remove the casket, which can be a very difficult process given it's weight and sometimes small cargo doors. When I am on the ramp, I always note the reactions of people on-board the plane. They know something is up since there is a special cart for the casket and there are often police officers and a uniformed soldier standing there waiting. The looks on peoples' faces are awful and will stick with me forever. It's the first and ONLY evidence they've physically seen that indicates something dreadful is happening overseas. It's the only thing I've seen and I hate it. This war must end.

[SheilaT]

1. I worked at DCA back in the 70's as a ticket agent

during the Vietnam war, and the body escorts (as we called them then) were always sad. More than once I waited on a widow accompanying her dead husband's body home for burial.

It never gets easier.

[purduejake]

6. As I understand...

The escorts are friends of the deceased. Sometimes lieutenants, sometimes best friends. People need to see this. Few realize what "cargo" is flying immediately beneath them.

[Erika]

2. Yes, Americans hate this unnecessary war

They hide their heads in shame that W was elected and they played a part.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. It is rumored that LBJ decided against runing

whent the wife saw a cart covered with flags, she thought it was great until the SS explained to her what it was... she had a long talk with lyndon

[FlemingsGhost]

4. I think more Americans should personally witness the process.

If they didn't die of shame first, they'd work their asses off putting an end to the madness. As it is, "ignorance is bliss."

A whole lot of ignorance, out there ...

[NMMNG]

5. I agree with FlemingsGhost

Although people may be horrified by it, they need to see it. Then they can no longer think of the war as something abstract that is going on "over there". It is real, and thousands of people have died. The more people are horrified, the more anti-war protestors we get. Then, with any luck, this whole barbaric mess will come to an end.