memorial

We left our places of work. Walked out of the squadron, the office, the shop, off the flight line. Where there would normally be the buzzing, whistling, wizzing, bustling sounds of one of the busiest airfields in the country, all was quiet. We walked, we drove, in silence, while a C-17 landed with precious cargo. We lined the center avenue of our base, side by side we stood. Pilots, maintainers, personnelists, commanders, officer and enlisted, instructors and students, military and civilian. The Honor Guard escorted the white hearse as it creeped along the street, followed by cars of family and friends of our fallen brother. As the line of vehicles neared each one of us, there was a salute or hand placed on our heart and a tear in our eye. With the police escort long past, our eyes followed the convoy through the gate as it sent our comrade on his way to rest. We returned to work, without words, changed from the moments before. We know that could be any one of us, our brother or sister, mother or father, son or daughter, a friend or soul mate. No matter who it may be tomorrow, we will stand on that road to honor, remember, work for your memory, and the hope of those to come, for whom we fight.

SSgt. John Self was killed in Baghdad by a roadside bomb on May 14Th. It was his fourth tour in Iraq. He was called, he answered.... For all of us.

Godspeed brother.

See you on the flip side.

Military Times article
Honor the Fallen