Date:
Saturday evening, December 3, 2006
American Airlines Flight 1904, ORD - MIA
Captain Jeff Wallace
By First Officer Gary Blied
We were informed at the gate that the remains of MSgt. Shawn Richardson would
shortly be loaded on our flight for the trip to Miami. He was a 17 year veteran
of the United States Air Force and had been killed in the service of our
country. I went down onto the ramp and found the long box appropriately
stationed off to the side in a luggage cart.. The curtains on the cart were
pulled. It was my honor to spend a few moments in prayer with him.
The captain and I finished our preflight duties and then went back down onto
the ramp and checked in with the crew chiefs to observe the loading of MSgt.
Richardson. We departed almost an hour late due to our late arrival into
Chicago.
We called for push and it was immediately granted. Normally, there's a wait. We
called ground for taxi and again - immediately granted. Normally, there's a
wait. We were cleared onto the runway and for an immediate take off. Passing
through about twenty five thousand feet we were further cleared direct OMN (Ormand
Beach) which is the first fix on the arrival into Miami. That's basically a
thousand mile straight line and the most direct clearance I've ever received to
Miami. Not a word was ever said - but people were watching out for us.
The flight to and landing in Miami were uneventful, until we went to turn off
the runway. The tower asked us to proceed a little further down where an
escort was waiting for us.
We did as instructed and a Miami Dade Police cruiser met us on the taxiway. He
escorted our American Airlines Boeing 757 to the D terminal. The entire north
ramp had been cleared of all aircraft. I'd never seen that either.
As we approached the ramp we noticed the lights. There were at least a half
dozen fire trucks, no less than 15 police cars and countless other vehicles.
They were all parked in rows with their lights flashing. As we taxied our
aircraft to the gate, the fire trucks saluted our arrival with crossed streams
of water shooting over the aircraft. My first seven years of service were in
the Air Force Crash Fire Rescue Department. There is no higher salute
from the fire department.
We parked the aircraft and shut down. After our checklists, Captain Jeff
Wallace and I went down to the ramp level and observed the unpacking of the
casket, then the dressing with a flag. It was accepted by the bearer team which
was comprised of members of the Miami Dade Police Department and Air Force
Honor Guard.
After the "present arms" order (when all military and former military render
salutes and civilians put their hands over their hearts) and the "order arms"
order, when the salutes were finished, I noticed our jet. As I looked up
from the ramp level I saw a somber face in every window. Not one of our
passengers had moved until our fallen solider had departed the aircraft.
When the procession left the airport, there were two cruisers in front of the
hearse and I have no idea how many behind. It was worthy of a presidential
motorcade and a fitting and probably all too uncommon show of love and respect
for one of our fallen.
And in case I haven't mentioned this previously - it was 1:30 a.m. on a Sunday
morning, we were almost two hours late. Our reception had probably been waiting
for hours and I would bet that most of the people on our ramp were not on the
clock.
Every now and then you see it: the silent majority that makes this country the
best in the world. I was so proud that night. Proud that my fellow citizens on
every level worked to get MSgt. Richardson to his final repose. Proud of all
the people who showed up on the ramp late that Saturday night and waited hours
into Sunday morning to show their respect. Proud of our passengers that
they recognized a greater purpose than getting off the jet. And proud
that my company, American Airlines, knows how to handle this situation with
humility and honor.
As you go through your day, remember that there are thousands of men and women
overseas in the service of our country, far from home and in danger's way.
Please remember that they have families back here who live every day in fear
of the phone call or official visit with the news that their worst nightmare
has come true.
Be thankful for their efforts and if you know someone who is in the service -
get their address from their family and write them and thank them. It's
the least you can do.
Gary Blied
Pilot, American Airlines
Major, USAF (ret)
Bridgman, MI 49106
flybear@qtm.net
Cell: 269 369 6910
Office: 269 465-9269