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