Honoring our soldiers

We just arrived in St. Louis for our first layover enroute to Salt Lake City.  Onboard our flight was a young Sergeant carrying the remains of a deceased soldier.  The pilot asked us remain seated to allow these 2 soldiers off the plane first.  It was a touching moment, as the Sergeant walked up from the back of the plane, carefully holding a small wooden box and his travel bag.  The image of the box is ingrained in my memory… The packed plane sat quietly, patiently waiting and watching, in respect and in honor.  When he got to the front of the plane, about to get off the plane, he turned, faced us, and saluted us.  Saluting us, when we should have been saluting him.

Sad moment, but very touching.  It makes me proud to be an American, to be in a society where people respect each other (at least sometimes), where people honor our heroes, even though they may be complete strangers.  It also makes me proud to be a Southwest Airlines customer.  I’ve always enjoyed Southwest, but especially for the pilot’s sincere gratitude towards these two… and informing the passengers and allowing us strangers who happen to be on this flight to participate in honoring our soldiers.