Dover 'Old Guard' team shoulders heavy burden

[babylonsister]

Dover 'Old Guard' team shoulders heavy burden

By Rachel Streitfeld
CNN


WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Staff Sgt. Cody Reeves has survived harrowing conditions and stared down enemies on the battlefield during two tours in the military hotspots of Iraq.

Now he is stationed near Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, trained to carry the remains of fellow soldiers who perished in that same conflict.

Before,"it was all about catching the bad guy," Reeves said. "When you come here, it's all about honoring your brothers who are fallen for catching the bad guys, for their service."

Reeves serves in the Army's Old Guard, a tight-knit group of soldiers of similar height and size who physically bear the weight of the Army's fallen veterans. The Old Guard conducts a 15-minute ceremony called a dignified transfer.

A recent decision by Defense Secretary Robert Gates gives families the choice to allow media to film the solemn event. It's the first time in 20 years the ceremony has been open to the press.

more/video at link...

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/05/23/dover.old.guard/index.html

[Captain Hilts]

1. Thanks for posting this, Bsister. I donated platelets at Walter Reed last week

so these guys might have lighter duty.

[babylonsister]

2. Thank you for doing that!

I know that's not the first time, too. ;)

cnn had a special on these men who do this duty tonight. They also said two more soldiers/husbands/dads/sons/brothers will be 'coming home' tonight, and will be documented publicly. That's a good thing. The worst? One of them is a dad of 8 kids under 16. :cry:

[Captain Hilts]

3. Oh, gee. Living in TX you must see a lot of Army folks. nt