Fallen comrades

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse
  • 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs, currently serving in Afghanistan
BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan --  I am an American Airman. This is the start of our creed and the start of my story.

I answered my nation's call. I endured grueling training and almost lost sight of my courage from time to time. I worked hard that I may call myself "Airman." I am not a Soldier, but am not offended by the media's generalization calling us Soldiers, because the Army has a tougher job - one that I don't know if I'd have the fortitude to do.

I spent a year with the honor guard at a stateside base. Our task, in most cases, was to honor the fallen, during funerals. We helped bury veterans, retirees and in some cases, active-duty Airmen, but I thank God those were few and far between. I served as the NCO in charge during many of the funerals. I never let myself become numb to the emotion. It's a common misconception - that honor guardsmen are emotionless. We are charged to not show emotion, not to be without emotion altogether. There is a speech we give to the next of kin. There are many variations, but it goes something like this:

"Sir/Ma'am, on behalf of the President of the United States, the Department of Defense and a grateful nation, please accept this flag as a token of gratitude for the service and dedication of your loved one."

I said that more times than I can remember, always looking directly into the eyes of the mother, sister, wife, brother or father, unless my emotion was too great and I'd lower the brim of my hat to hide the tears that were welling up inside my eyes. It's a moving experience, although it becomes glaringly obvious that a flag, even from a nation as great as this, is a poor replacement for brother, husband, son, daughter, wife or sister.

Some of the more memorable funerals, aside from the active-duty ones, were some of the retired Airmen. These funerals were not laden with tears, but often laced with humor and stories. The family celebrated a life well-lived - one of honor and courage. Almost always, these Airmen became shining examples of what is right in this world, becoming mentors and leaders long after they had served their commitments. Those were truly inspiring.

Now, more than a year after I saluted my last flag-covered casket, I find myself honoring the fallen once again. Being deployed, a fallen Soldier from any branch or from any nation, bears added significance. The truth is simply that the person in the box could well have been any one of us.

So, when even one Soldier dies, we all line the streets to see him off with honor. It doesn't matter what time of day it is, what condition we're in or what we're doing at the time (with a few obvious exceptions), we go to salute the Soldier who has given his life in the hope that others may live in peace. No words can describe the emotion of seeing thousands of uniformed enlisted members and officers from all nations and walks of life lining up, shoulder-to-shoulder as far as the eye can see, even if it is to honor just one. No photos or video will ever show the general public this silent procession because the fallen are closely guarded. No Airman, Soldier, Sailor or Marine would ever let this ceremony become a spectacle.

And here we are, thousands of miles away from home, constantly in harm's way to give others the right to burn the very flag that we defend, the flag we salute, the flag we cover our dead with to show appreciation for their sacrifice. We don't ask for sympathy. We don't even ask for compassion. All we ask for is that people remember. Remember there are people out here, and have been for as long as this great nation has stood, giving their lives for the freedom so many take for granted.