Cops Spontaneously Honor Remains of Returning Soldier
Officers were arriving at Reagan National Airport for National Police Week.
A stunning and emotional scene played out Tuesday morning as the remains of a U.S. soldier lost in Vietnam arrived at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Carolyn Ryan, Washington Bureau Chief of The New York Times, captured what happened in a series of tweets.
1/5 Amazing scene at Nat'l Airport this a.m. as the military returned remains of a US solider killed in Vietnam. pic.twitter.com/77CnWeGDC5
— carolynryan 🏳️🌈🏓 (@carolynryan) May 12, 2015
2/5 Everyone in the terminal stopped to watch out the window as the family gathered to await his flag-draped casket. pic.twitter.com/0FLYjcdH6x
— carolynryan 🏳️🌈🏓 (@carolynryan) May 12, 2015
3/5 Then an incredible thing happened. Police from all over were at the airport for a big DC meeting. pic.twitter.com/8El272j7Jm
— carolynryan 🏳️🌈🏓 (@carolynryan) May 12, 2015
4/5 Police from all over, even a British "Bobbie" pic.twitter.com/AT7X3EvJrn
— carolynryan 🏳️🌈🏓 (@carolynryan) May 12, 2015
5/5 They decided to line up and stand guard alongside the family of the soldier. pic.twitter.com/UhkeJxrCGo
— carolynryan 🏳️🌈🏓 (@carolynryan) May 12, 2015
The officers, along with tens of thousands of their brothers and sisters in blue, are in Washington, D.C. for National Police Week; their chance to meet with each other and to remember those who’ve fallen. It’s also our chance to honor and salute … and say a collective “thank you.”
Perhaps this small, spontaneous act will help remind us why cops, along with our military, deserve honor and respect.
