Ethical Angels — What Happens When Deceased Soldiers and Their K9's Return

I am a fan of any story about animals, especially when it involves people doing great things for them.

Honor Guards

The dignified transfer of remains, as it’s called, is a serious mission that involves a lot of people, from licensed mortuary specialists and deployed service members to military chaplains and liaisons who support the families of the fallen.

Honor Guards, often made of volunteer team members, conduct plane-side ceremonies in all countries as service members are returned with the utmost dignity, honor, and respect. These dignified ceremonies pay tribute to the sacrifice of the fallen and show appreciation and compassion for their families.

The Honor Guard is dedicated to serving fallen military personnel from overseas.

Respect where it is due

These are people who have given their lives for their country. Regardless of which country or which war we are talking about, they have fought for the welfare of people like you and me but have tragically given their lives in the process.

Several videos on YouTube show the respect given to fallen soldiers. For example, the fallen soldier that was escorted and flown home to Florida on American Airlines.

In this video the returned soldier is honorably greeted by Army personnel, local police, family, and fire department — who showed their respect by showering the plane with 4 powerful streams of water from fire trucks on both sides.

One that I came across a while ago was about the Delta airline honor guard, which was made up of baggage handlers and staff. This video was not special because the honor guards were baggage handlers per se.

(I can tell you many stories from years of traveling about how disrespectful baggage handlers can be.)

It is unique because it is a very special piece of luggage. You can watch the video here.

If you watch the video, you will see two caskets. The smaller one is that of the soldier’s K9 partner. What impressed me was that just as much respect was shown for the K9’s casket as for the soldier’s.

This is just what the soldier would have wanted.

Dogs have been used in warfare for centuries, as far back as World War I. They provided comfort and protection and even helped to locate wounded soldiers on the battlefield. Their bravery and loyalty made them invaluable assets to the troops, and their stories have become legendary.

Dogs in war face the risk of contracting diseases and infections, being poisoned by the enemy, injured just as much if not more than the soldiers they try to protect. Just like the loyal and loving creatures they are, they never complain and do it for the love of their handlers.

These dogs also face emotional challenges, being separated from their owners for long periods, and some are never reunited with their owners after the war. Some dogs have even suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other emotional challenges from their service.

As Marliss Melton, author of the Novella: ‘Look Again’ (a story of a shattered navy seal and his relationship with an ex-service dog), put it:

“Military dogs are everything we want our soldiers to be–fearless, tireless, unflagging, and utterly loyal.”

How fitting that they receive the same treatment as their owner, who they give their life for.

Ethical angels at work — thank you to those people in the Delta Honor Guard at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Atlanta. Georgia.

Till next time,

Calvin