Posted on 11/30/2006 5:22:22 AM PST by Revelation 911
(Rochester, N.Y.) -- A woman’s account of a scene at the Greater Rochester International Airport has touched off a call for the Pentagon to change some policies.
The woman, from Dansville, said she saw a soldier's casket come down a luggage belt, where it was loaded into a cart with other baggage.
Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks has asked the federal Department of Defense to change the way the caskets of fallen soldiers are handled.
“It was treated like a suitcase and we think that's unacceptable. We don't think any member of the military should be treated in that fashion, especially not in our community where we value the service of our veterans,” she said.
Brooks said the casket, attended by another soldier was headed to Pennsylvania. She said policy was followed for the transfer, but she'd like to see that policy changed.
ping
Back when I was in the military, I was selected for escort duty for a sailor that died in service. I was the first on and off the plane, and I personaly oversaw the loading and unloading of the remains to insure that the casket was held level so that the body was not damaged.
Somewhere along the way the rules have been changed.
would you folks kindly ping your fellow vets
I really find this hard to believe.
I agree!
I have seen first-hand accounts detailing similar handling in this conflict.
And Eric, unfortunately it is all too easy to believe. That doesn't mean it has to be.
If this actually happened, it needs to stop right f'n now.
This airport is not 5 min from my house - and the thought of a fallen soldier being jostled about by a baggage handler is hard to bear.......seeing them come home in a box is hard enough
Lets hope someone sees this and reacts to it
I think I'll wait to see if this story pans out. Maybe it is just so hard to believe that I don't want to believe it.
It looks like unless it happens again and someone can get some proof or if the soldier "riding" along talks we may never know the truth.
Vets React to Coffin Uproar
Last Update: 12/1/2006 8:13:31 PM
Chalonda Roberts (Rochester, N.Y.) - A defense department investigation found that the army followed proper procedures when it unloaded the coffin containing the remains of a fallen soldier at the Rochester airport.
Witnesses had said they saw the coffin placed in a cart alongside regular luggage.
The defense department statement said that at no time were the soldier's remains moved with other luggage or baggage.
This quickly raised a debate about the procedures the military takes when transporting fallen soldiers.
Joe Englert served in the army during WW II, over 60 years ago. He said it's a mistake the way the military recently handled the transport of a fallen soldier.
Officials at the airport indicated that they are not usually notified unless there are special requests from family.
"It's a tragedy for family and any decent individual to see such a thoughtless way to bring this man home," Englert said.
We spoke with one veteran who agreed with the process of transporting a fallen soldier, but said the airport and the public should be notified.
Vietnam Veteran Bob Webster said, "If we have the ability to greet every walking soldier, then we should do the same for every soldier that has to be carried home."
Webster said people shouldn't be upset with the process of carrying a soldier home. "I just think it's the war coming home to us," he said.
Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks and several state lawmakers have requested the department of defense include in its policy the practice of notifying airports whenever airlines transfer a soldier’s remains.
***
L.A. Arsht, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for MC&FP, said in a statement, "The Department of Defense has worked closely with the Air Transport Association and members of the airline industry to ensure that the fallen are treated with dignity and respect. We continue to work… to get a better understanding of the events in question…to ensure that the fallen are handled with the reverence, care, and dignity befitting them."
http://www.13wham.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=1C5C1ED1-5C15-4AA5-9584-9E0807A5E2D3
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1746370/posts
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