[twinklesweep]

Originally Posted by CFrance

This is a short, easy-to-read article from Fox News about how one man changed the way the military returns fallen soldiers. I also recall that Michelle Obama and Mrs. Biden addressed this situation early in Obama's first term, but I can't seem to find anything on it after a brief google search.

Father's Complaint Prompts U.S. Military to Change How it Brings Fallen Soldiers Home | Fox News

The article, going back to April 2007, includes the following description after the U.S. government's policy existing at the time was changed:

Michael Patton, a police sergeant from New Tazewell, Tenn., attended the arrival ceremony at the Knoxville airport. He said he was impressed by the military escort and the precision color guard.

In this video that I posted, though the two sergeants in their dress uniforms are obviously evident, the "precision color guard" appears to be ordinary Delta employees whom I would guess must choose to volunteer to do this, still dressed in their everyday work clothes (and even one in sneakers). Even if the machine that lowered the coffin from the plane to the ground is a "forklift," IMHO this was all done with the utmost of respect, and I for one was very touched by it.