FastTimmy
07-20-2004, 06:26 AM
The following story was e-mailed to me earlier this morning. Reading it brought a tear to my eye..
Timmy
ESCORT FOR A FALLEN HERO
Take a few minutes to read this. It will make you proud.
Please take the time to read the email below. It is a
great, true story. The letter was written by Senior
Investigator Jack Graham of the New York State Police
to fellow members of the NY State Police and to the
Syracuse Police who, on April 17, 2003, participated
in a hastily planned ceremonial escort for a soldier
killed in Iraq. Feel free to pass this on. These are
the kinds of stories that make us proud to be an
American.
The abbreviation "SP", means "State Police", and it
refers to a station.
For instance, SP Loudonville, NY.
On Thursday, April 17, 2003 you participated in an
escort detail for GREGORY P. HUXLEY JR who was killed
in action in Iraq on April 6, 2003. On behalf of the entire
Huxley family and from me, personally, I want to say
"Thank you very much." Your professionalism,
dedication and sincerity meant so much to the
Huxley family, that words cannot describe their feelings
at this time.
What most did not know was that the US Army had
promised the family members that they would be taken
to Dover, Delaware to be present when their son
arrived from Iraq and there would be a full military
ceremony in Dover for GREGORY. Unfortunately, there
was a communication problem and they were not present
during that ceremony.
Then they were informed that the body of their son was
being flown to Syracuse and that the funeral director
could pick up the "fallen soldier" at the cargo area
of the airport and that somebody would help them
remove the casket from the cardboard shipping
container for transport to Boonville, NY.
The funeral director felt that unacceptable for a
nineteen year old young man that gave his life for
this country and for the freedom of so many others.
As a family friend he contacted me to see if anything
could be done. We now had six hours before GREGORY
arrived in Syracuse.
Phone calls were made to SP North Syracuse and SGT
Nick Harmatiuk took over from there. What you
participated in and observed the rest of that day was
truly an outstanding display of what this agency can
do in very short time.
What happened was just visually and emotionally
overwhelming.
The procession left SP North Syracuse led by eight
Syracuse PD motorcycles, followed by the hearse, four
cars with family members and followed by ten State
Police and Syracuse PD cars. How ironic it was that
when the procession was traveling parallel to the
runway, the plane carrying GREGORY landed next to it.
We were able to enter the planes cargo area and remove
the shipping crate from the casket and drape the
American flag over the casket. When the casket
traveled down the conveyor belt, fifteen New York
State Troopers and the same amount of Syracuse
Policemen lined the path to the awaiting hearse - all
at attention. A hand salute was executed as six State
Troopers proudly bore the flag draped coffin to the
hearse. After a short prayer, the family was given
some time to welcome their son home.
The entire airport was so quiet. I looked up at the
concourse windows and saw a hundred or more people.
They were all standing, watching, with their hands
over their hearts, saluting a young man that they did
not know. Somehow they learned that a fallen soldier
had come home and they wanted to honor his sacrifice.
The casket was then placed in the hearse and the
procession left the airport in the same fashion as we
arrived, only this time with a young hero that our
hearts will never forget.
The motorcade was escorted to the thruway entrance by
the Syracuse Police Department's motorcycles. All
traffic was stopped for the procession and we headed
east towards Boonville. After getting off the
thruway, we found that every intersection that the
procession encountered was controlled by State
Troopers, allowing us a safe, unimpeded passage. At
each intersection, the State Trooper stood at
attention, saluting the fallen soldier and his family,
giving him and his family the respect that they
deserved. How emotional that was to see and now to
reflect on.
When entering the Village of Boonville, the main
street was decorated with an infinite number of
American Flags and yellow ribbons. As we approached
the center of town, all of the church bells began to
peal at once recognizing and saluting Gregory's
arrival. Hundreds of people holding American flags
lined the street, some with their hand over their heart and some weeping for GREGORY for what he
sacrificed, for us and his country. As we drove by
the village park, the National Anthem was being
played, for GREGORY, and I think, for all of us.
At the funeral home, eight veterans lifted the casket
out of the hearse and into the home with the family.
GREGORY had returned home.
GREGORY'S family said to me later that the images I
have just described will always be etched in their
hearts, forever. But the one memory that will always
be there first, was of the State Troopers at the
airport, standing at attention, saluting, with tears
running down their cheeks for their son, a fallen
soldier. A hero whom those Troopers never personally
knew.
Our jobs take many different avenues in life. We hope
that during our day or shift that we have made a
difference, a positive contribution.
On this occasion you did just that. An entire family
knows that you cared to do your very best to honor
their son. Their words and expressions told me just
that. We made a difference yesterday, and we did it
well.
The rewards we receive for details like this one do
not come from anywhere but from the heart. Take pride
in what you accomplished, because it was distinct and
without equal in this Trooper's eye. I have had so
many good things happen since I have been a State
Trooper, but in those twenty fours years, I have never
been more proud the New York State Police as I was
yesterday - A fallen soldier, a hero, a son, a brother
has finally come home, in grand deserving style,
thanks to all of you.
Jack Graham
Senior Investigator
New York State Police
Timmy
ESCORT FOR A FALLEN HERO
Take a few minutes to read this. It will make you proud.
Please take the time to read the email below. It is a
great, true story. The letter was written by Senior
Investigator Jack Graham of the New York State Police
to fellow members of the NY State Police and to the
Syracuse Police who, on April 17, 2003, participated
in a hastily planned ceremonial escort for a soldier
killed in Iraq. Feel free to pass this on. These are
the kinds of stories that make us proud to be an
American.
The abbreviation "SP", means "State Police", and it
refers to a station.
For instance, SP Loudonville, NY.
On Thursday, April 17, 2003 you participated in an
escort detail for GREGORY P. HUXLEY JR who was killed
in action in Iraq on April 6, 2003. On behalf of the entire
Huxley family and from me, personally, I want to say
"Thank you very much." Your professionalism,
dedication and sincerity meant so much to the
Huxley family, that words cannot describe their feelings
at this time.
What most did not know was that the US Army had
promised the family members that they would be taken
to Dover, Delaware to be present when their son
arrived from Iraq and there would be a full military
ceremony in Dover for GREGORY. Unfortunately, there
was a communication problem and they were not present
during that ceremony.
Then they were informed that the body of their son was
being flown to Syracuse and that the funeral director
could pick up the "fallen soldier" at the cargo area
of the airport and that somebody would help them
remove the casket from the cardboard shipping
container for transport to Boonville, NY.
The funeral director felt that unacceptable for a
nineteen year old young man that gave his life for
this country and for the freedom of so many others.
As a family friend he contacted me to see if anything
could be done. We now had six hours before GREGORY
arrived in Syracuse.
Phone calls were made to SP North Syracuse and SGT
Nick Harmatiuk took over from there. What you
participated in and observed the rest of that day was
truly an outstanding display of what this agency can
do in very short time.
What happened was just visually and emotionally
overwhelming.
The procession left SP North Syracuse led by eight
Syracuse PD motorcycles, followed by the hearse, four
cars with family members and followed by ten State
Police and Syracuse PD cars. How ironic it was that
when the procession was traveling parallel to the
runway, the plane carrying GREGORY landed next to it.
We were able to enter the planes cargo area and remove
the shipping crate from the casket and drape the
American flag over the casket. When the casket
traveled down the conveyor belt, fifteen New York
State Troopers and the same amount of Syracuse
Policemen lined the path to the awaiting hearse - all
at attention. A hand salute was executed as six State
Troopers proudly bore the flag draped coffin to the
hearse. After a short prayer, the family was given
some time to welcome their son home.
The entire airport was so quiet. I looked up at the
concourse windows and saw a hundred or more people.
They were all standing, watching, with their hands
over their hearts, saluting a young man that they did
not know. Somehow they learned that a fallen soldier
had come home and they wanted to honor his sacrifice.
The casket was then placed in the hearse and the
procession left the airport in the same fashion as we
arrived, only this time with a young hero that our
hearts will never forget.
The motorcade was escorted to the thruway entrance by
the Syracuse Police Department's motorcycles. All
traffic was stopped for the procession and we headed
east towards Boonville. After getting off the
thruway, we found that every intersection that the
procession encountered was controlled by State
Troopers, allowing us a safe, unimpeded passage. At
each intersection, the State Trooper stood at
attention, saluting the fallen soldier and his family,
giving him and his family the respect that they
deserved. How emotional that was to see and now to
reflect on.
When entering the Village of Boonville, the main
street was decorated with an infinite number of
American Flags and yellow ribbons. As we approached
the center of town, all of the church bells began to
peal at once recognizing and saluting Gregory's
arrival. Hundreds of people holding American flags
lined the street, some with their hand over their heart and some weeping for GREGORY for what he
sacrificed, for us and his country. As we drove by
the village park, the National Anthem was being
played, for GREGORY, and I think, for all of us.
At the funeral home, eight veterans lifted the casket
out of the hearse and into the home with the family.
GREGORY had returned home.
GREGORY'S family said to me later that the images I
have just described will always be etched in their
hearts, forever. But the one memory that will always
be there first, was of the State Troopers at the
airport, standing at attention, saluting, with tears
running down their cheeks for their son, a fallen
soldier. A hero whom those Troopers never personally
knew.
Our jobs take many different avenues in life. We hope
that during our day or shift that we have made a
difference, a positive contribution.
On this occasion you did just that. An entire family
knows that you cared to do your very best to honor
their son. Their words and expressions told me just
that. We made a difference yesterday, and we did it
well.
The rewards we receive for details like this one do
not come from anywhere but from the heart. Take pride
in what you accomplished, because it was distinct and
without equal in this Trooper's eye. I have had so
many good things happen since I have been a State
Trooper, but in those twenty fours years, I have never
been more proud the New York State Police as I was
yesterday - A fallen soldier, a hero, a son, a brother
has finally come home, in grand deserving style,
thanks to all of you.
Jack Graham
Senior Investigator
New York State Police