Last December, I wrote about Fallen American Heroes’ being returned home as cargo
In the holds of commercial planes. I questioned whether President’s Bush’s momma had forgotten to instill in him a sense of honor for our fallen heroes.

This is how it works,: The coffins of fallen troops, all arrive in the United States through Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, escorted by other troops and draped in American flags, according to the Pentagon.

From Dover, remains are sent in the cargo holds of commercial flights, with escorts traveling as passengers aboard the planes.
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Frankly it upset me, I believed then as I do now
That all honor needs to be rendered to American’s willing to sacrifice everything
So that I may live in freedom, the dead may not care, but the living do.

The Casualty count for Florida today stands at 111 deaths, each of these heroes deserves to be treated with Honor.

In an article at military.com, Jeff Edwards wrote about John and Stacy Holley, who’s only son was being returned as low priority fright.

“The casket containing Matthew’s body would be unloaded using a forklift, deposited on a wheeled luggage cart, and hauled across the tarmac with all the care and ceremony given to a crate of running shoes. The family would not even be allowed to meet his remains on the runway. They could claim his casket from the holding area for oversized luggage. To their horror and amazement, John and Stacey learned that this is standard practice for returning the remains of deceased service members. Honors and ceremonies come later, at the memorial service and funeral. Everything before that point is handled using routine procedures designed for commercial freight. “

Outrage Of The Day has more to say.

Here’s an Update from Military.com from Jeff Edwards:

“In the weeks and months after Matt’s funeral, the Holley’s worked with Congressman Duncan Hunter, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, to draft legislation governing the return of deceased military personnel to American soil. The resulting bill, “Transportation of Remains of Casualties Dying in a Theater of Combat Operations,” has been passed by Congress and as Section 563 of the Fiscal Year 2007 National Defense Authorization Act. The language of the bill specifies that the remains of military personnel who die in a theater of combat be transported to the military airfield nearest to the intended place of internment, and that a military escort be present at the arrival airfield to remove the remains from the aircraft and to render proper military honors. The bill also allows next-of-kin to waive this requirement and accept transportation of the remains to the nearest commercial airport without delay. “
The current Senate draft of the 2007 National Defense Authorization Act does not contain the language approved by Congress, but several U.S. Senators, including Barbara Boxer, are working hard to convince their fellows to include the language in the final version when the act is signed into law. As I write this, the Senate is in conference, taking this issue (and others) under consideration.
The text of Section 563 is available to the public on the Library of Congress website. I’m asking you to read it and think about what it means to our fallen warriors, and to their loved ones. Then pick up the phone, call your senators and urge them to vote in favor of including this provision in the approved version of the Fiscal Year 2007 National Defense Authorization Act. “