True Story, real good stuff.

[MrVicchio]

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-four
>years, I have never been more proud of 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