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Welcoming home a fallen Soldier

  • Published
  • By Col. John C. Sell
  • 21st Medical Group Commander
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. --  It was a day that would be described as not out of the ordinary for an August morning at Peterson Air Force Base. Pikes Peak stood boldly in the back drop as she normally does, looking majestically down on Colorado Springs as the bright sun warmed the morning skies. People went about their business on the base, contractors worked busily on the west gate entrance, lawnmowers hummed as grass was cut to its perfect form, a rooftop was being repaired on one of the hangars. A commercial airline jet landed from Denver, probably filled with tourists and folks on business and taxied from the military side of the flight line over to the Colorado Springs Airport.

Moments later another jet landed and the moments of normalcy suddenly became frozen. A specially configured C-21 slowly pulled up to Peterson's Base Operations Center where I stood at the position of attention. With me, was the Fort Carson Honor Guard, members of the Patriot Guard Riders, local funeral home officials, and most importantly -- the family of a Soldier who was coming home for the final time after being killed in Afghanistan. I was given the distinct honor to represent the 21st Space Wing, Peterson AFB, the United States Air Force, and all of us who wear the uniform and serve our country to meet a fallen soldier who gave his life for his country.

Silence filled the air as the jet engines became still. You could hear the two commercial pilots undo straps inside the aircraft, and slowly the large side door automatically opened, the pilots -- professional at all times -- prepared everything in advance before summoning the honor guard team. Slowly around the corner from the jet's interior, we saw the Stars and Stripes folded perfectly over the casket as sniffles and tears from the family broke the quiet of this somber, Tuesday Colorado morning.

As I called "Present Arms," it was just not us in uniform who rendered a salute. Civilians, flight line maintainers, commercial pilots, and protocol officials all raised their right hand saluting this hero, this Soldier, who gave the ultimate sacrifice. With the casket secure in the hearse, I went over to the family and told them how sorry I was for their loss ... our country's loss ... and what a sincere honor it was to be with them to welcome their son, their husband ... a fellow service member, home.

On cue, the security forces turned on their flashing blue and red lights, the bikers started their thunderous motorcycle engines, a final nod from the funeral director, and the motorcade solemnly exited the flight line proceeding down Peterson Avenue past the 21st Medical Group and base chapel before departing the base as the Colorado Springs Police Department picked up this much deserved escort taking this fallen Soldier to Fort Carson.

All the normal and routine events you would expect to see at a military installation resumed its ordinary self ... but this day was anything but ordinary. This gripping and significant event on Aug. 11, 2009, has changed me, and will now stay with me forever as it probably has changed others who have had this duty -- an honor to serve with and pay respects to the real heroes of our country, and a sober reminder of the true cost of our nation's freedom.