Sunday, October 26, 2014

A great story

My lead flight attendant came to me and said, "We have an H.R. on this flight." (H.R. stands for human remains.)

"Are they military?" I asked.

'Yes', she said.

'Is there an escort?' I asked.

'Yes, I've already assigned him a seat'.

'Would you please tell him to come to the Flight Deck. You can board him early," I said...

A short while later a young army sergeant entered the flight deck. He was the image of the perfectly dressed soldier. He introduced himself and I asked him about his soldier.

The escorts of these fallen soldiers talk about them as if they are still alive and still with us. 'My soldier is on his way back to Virginia ,' he said. He proceeded to answer my questions, but offered no words.

I asked him if there was anything I could do for him and he said no. I told him that he had the toughest job in the military, and that I appreciated the work that he does for the families of our fallen soldiers. The first officer and I got up out of our seats to shake his hand. He left the Flight Deck to find his seat.

We completed our preflight checks, pushed back and performed an uneventful departure. About 30 minutes into our flight, I received a call from the lead flight attendant in the cabin.

'I just found out the family of the soldier we are carrying, is also on board', she said. She then proceeded to tell me that the father, mother, wife and 2-year old daughter were escorting their son, husband, and father home. The family was upset because they were unable to see the container that the soldier was in before we left.

We were on our way to a major hub at which the family was going to wait four hours for the connecting flight home to Virginia . The father of the soldier told the flight attendant that knowing his son was below him in the cargo compartment and being unable to see him was too much for him and the family to bear. He had asked the flight attendant if there was anything that could be done to allow them to see him upon our arrival. The family wanted to be outside by the cargo door to watch the soldier being taken off the airplane.

I could hear the desperation in the flight attendants voice when she asked me if there was anything I could do. 'I'm on it', I said. I told her that I would get back to her.

Airborne communication with my company normally occurs in the form of e-mail like messages. I decided to bypass this system and contact my flight dispatcher directly on a secondary radio. There is a radio operator in the operations control center who connects you to the telephone of the dispatcher. I was in direct contact with the dispatcher. I explained the situation I had on board with the family and what it was the family wanted. He said he understood and that he would get back to me.

Two hours went by and I had not heard from the dispatcher. We were going to get busy soon and I needed to know what to tell the family. I sent a text message asking for an update. I saved the return message from the dispatcher and the following is the text:

'Captain, sorry it has taken so long to get back to you. There is policy on this now, and I had to check on a few things. Upon your arrival a dedicated escort team will meet the aircraft. The team will escort the family to the ramp and plane side. A van will be used to load the remains with a secondary van for the family.

The family will be taken to their departure area and escorted into the terminal, where the remains can be seen on the ramp. It is a private area for the family only. When the connecting aircraft arrives, the family will be escorted onto the ramp and plane side to watch the remains being loaded for the final leg home.

Captain, most of us here in flight control are veterans. Please pass our condolences on to the family. Thanks.

I sent a message back, telling flight control thanks for a good job. I printed out the message and gave it to the lead flight attendant to pass on to the father. The lead flight attendant was very thankful and told me, 'You have no idea how much this will mean to them.'

Things started getting busy for the descent, approach and landing. After landing, we cleared the runway and taxied to the ramp area. The ramp is huge with 15 gates on either side of the alleyway. It is always a busy area with aircraft maneuvering every which way to enter and exit. When we entered the ramp and checked in with the ramp controller, we were told that all traffic was being held for us.

'There is a team in place to meet the aircraft', we were told. It looked like it was all coming together, then I realized that once we turned the seat belt sign off, everyone would stand up at once and delay the family from getting off the airplane. As we approached our gate, I asked the copilot to tell the ramp controller, we were going to stop short of the gate to make an announcement to the passengers. He did that and the ramp controller said, 'Take your time.'

I stopped the aircraft and set the parking brake. I pushed the public address button and said: 'Ladies and gentleman, this is your Captain speaking: I have stopped short of our gate to make a special announcement. We have a passenger on board who deserves our honor and respect. His Name is Private XXXXXX, a soldier who recently lost his life. Private XXXXXX is under your feet in the cargo hold. Escorting him today is Army Sergeant XXXXXXX. Also, on board are his father, mother, wife, and daughter. Your entire flight crew is asking for all passengers to remain in their seats to allow the family to exit the aircraft first. Thank you.'

We continued the turn to the gate, came to a stop and started our shutdown procedures. A couple of minutes later I opened the cockpit door. I found the two forward flight attendants crying, something you just do not see. I was told that after we came to a stop, every passenger on the aircraft stayed in their seats, waiting for the family to exit the aircraft.

When the family got up and gathered their things, a passenger slowly started to clap his hands. Moments later, more passengers joined in and soon the entire aircraft was clapping. Words of 'God Bless You', I'm sorry, thank you, be proud, and other kind words were uttered to the family as they made their way down the aisle and out of the airplane. They were escorted down to the ramp to finally be with their loved one.

Many of the passengers disembarking thanked me for the announcement I had made. They were just words, I told them, I could say them over and over again, but nothing I say will bring back that brave soldier.

I respectfully ask that all of you reflect on this event and the sacrifices that millions of our men and women have made to ensure our freedom and safety in these United States of AMERICA.

Foot note:

I know everyone who reads this will have tears in their eyes, including me. Prayer chain for our Military... PLEASE SHARE THIS! Please send this on after a short prayer for our service men and women.

They die for me and mine and you and yours and deserve our honor and respect.

Prayer Request:

When you receive this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our troops around the world... There is nothing attached. Just send this to people in your address book. Do not let it stop with you. Of all the gifts you could give a Marine, Soldier, Sailor, Airman, and others deployed in harm's way, prayer is the very best one.

GOD BLESS YOU!!!

Thank you all who have served, or are serving. We Will not forget!!!!
By Ken Koenen

Saturday, October 11, 2014

Look at this

I went to the State Fair to see how well Deepest Love did.
I am not sure how many people were in the division that Deepest Love was in but it looked like there was at least 10.

Here is Deepest Love.... So what do you think about the end result?

Thursday, September 11, 2014

My Birthday Wish!

It is that time again everyone. 

Time for my birthday wish not for myself but for others.
I did this for my birthday when 9-11 and has become a yearly request.

That always seems so well needed.

This is not meant to offend anyone in any way..

My birthday (for those that do not know I was born on 9-11) request is:
Say hi or I am happy to see you or even say a prayer or send good thoughts
for someone you do not know.

I know that this request I made after 9-11.

It has really blessed a lot of people for those that fulfilled the birthday
wish.

I have had so much happen around my birthday that I can't help, 

but try to really help out those around me not necessarily financially but
emotionally. 
(Terrorist attack 9-11-01 and father passed 9-06-04 and then Katrina hit
8-28-05)

So let's just pull together with love, understanding, compassion and faith
that all will work out.

Thanks to those that feel the desire to fulfill my birthday wish!

Monday, August 25, 2014

Yahoo! A finish!

I am so excited I got this old UFO finished!

She is so cute!

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Been thinking....

Thinking could be a good thing and it could be a bad thing.

With the death of the long time childhood tv friend Robin Williams. 
Hearing about all the ways his life and death has touched the world.... 
What would someone say about you should your time on this Earth be done?

So my question for all of you that decide you would like to partake in this little experiment with me.


What thoughts of me would you say?
How have I touched your life?
Did I make a difference?

Now it is your turn..... Post the same and see what others say.

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Her she is totally finish....

Well now that I decided to give my daughter her 21st year (mermaid) birthday present early. I guess I can show you how I finished her.

I have been heard alot of talk being done about her saying that she should be entered into the State Fair this year.



Sunday, June 08, 2014

Been busy the last few weeks.

Been busy the past few weeks and got several finishes.





Sunday, May 18, 2014

My 2nd finish for 2014!

Here is the finished pic of Deepest Love.
(one pic is the entire piece of material and the other pic is a close up)
I was a little disappointed that when washed the white blued.... then was happy after it fully dried that the white showed through beautifully.
I will be showing it unframed to all.... No one will see the framed piece totally finished until after my daughter receives it.

Monday, May 12, 2014

New Update

Was busy this weekend stitching.... I am so close to a finish!

Wednesday, May 07, 2014

More Deepest Love updates.



She is so close to being done that I wish I could wiggle my nose and have her totally done. LOL

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Yahoo! First finish of 2014 and UFO finish!

Yahoo! I am doing a major happy dance.
Not only have I a first finish of 2014...... This is also a UFO finish!
Yahoo! (sorry for the wrinkles. was too excited to wait to wash and iron)

Saturday, January 25, 2014

Here is the latest on my Deepest Love piece

She is coming along beautifully.
Unfortunately, I have been sick so have not wanted to do anything but sleep when not at work.

Friday, January 17, 2014

Just realized

I just realized that I had not posted on here in quite a while.

Been busy with work and working on Deepest Love by Mirabila.
Here are my progress pics for you to see my progress.

Progress is shown from left to right all the way down. (pictures are clickable)