An Airline Captain’s Report

AN AIRLINE CAPTAIN’S REPORT

The American flag does not fly because the wind moves past it…..

The American flag flies from the last breath of each military member who has died serving it.”


AIRLINE CAPTAIN – You will not regret reading this one. I Promise

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 s under your feet in the cargo hold. Escorting him today is Army Sergeant XXXXXX. 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.. Don’t break it! Please send this on after a short prayer for our service men and women.

Don’t break it!

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.

This Week with Gosar

For Immediate ReleaseContact: Jessica LycosDate: June 13, 2021jessica.lycos@mail.house.gov

This Week With Gosar

PRESCOTT, AZ – Here’s our top stories…

Gosar Pushes Back on Biden Administration Again for Trying to Export American Jobs

Gosar Pushes Back on Biden Administration Again for Trying to Export American Jobs

Mr. Biden continues to prove each day that his Administration is America Last, and he is at it again. Numerous news reports of a secret meeting in March hosted by high-ranking United States Department of Commerce officials to promote Canadian production of electric vehicles is the latest example. By favoring foreign production of critical minerals used in battery development, Mr. Biden has once again turned his back on our domestic mining industry and hard-working Americans

Securing our critical minerals supply chain serves our domestic industries and national security. Rather than expanding our reliance on foreign dependence, this Administration should be working to create American jobs and building domestic production.  

In response, as Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, this week I wrote to Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo seeking documents and background information on this secret meeting to sell out American jobs. 

You can read a copy of the letter I sent to Secretary Raimondo by clicking here.

Gosar Urges Biden to Rethink Flawed Russia Policy

Gosar Urges Biden to Rethink Flawed Russia Policy

Late last month, the Biden Administration announced it would waive sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project, effectively ensuring its completion. The Nord Stream 2 pipeline is an extensive offshore natural gas pipeline being constructed to connect Europe to reserves in Russia. It is owned by a former communist intelligence officer and close friend of Mr. Putin.

Reversing a policy implemented by President Trump, Mr. Biden handed a gift to Russian President Putin and his desire to increase geopolitical influence in Europe. That’s because Mr. Biden’s actions will send more Russian natural gas to Europe, put U.S. resources at a distinct competitive disadvantage, costing American jobs and reducing America’s geopolitical influence.

In five short months, we’ve gone from 100% energy independence under President Trump to gas shortages, two pipelines being shut down and gasoline prices averaging well over $3 a gallon. The Biden America Last agenda is undoing all of the positive gains President Trump created.  

In response, this week, my Republican colleagues and I wrote to Mr. Biden urging him to rethink his actions and fully implement the sanctions to prevent the completion of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project. 

Gosar Asks Attorney General Garland for Information on Treatment of Prisoners

Gosar Asks Attorney General Garland for Information on Treatment of Prisoners

This week, in response to numerous media reports of prisoners arrested in connection with the riot at the Capitol on January 6, 2021 being mistreated, I sent a letter to Attorney General Garland requesting information regarding their welfare. Specifically, reports indicate that individuals are being held in solitary confinement without justification for why they have received this status.

Individuals arrested for illegal acts on January 6deserve to be treated fairly and equally to other rioters arrested at events that took place across the country in 2020. 

Click here to read a copy of the letter I sent to Attorney General Garland.

When Biden Claims a Pistol is No Longer a Pistol

When Biden Claims a Pistol is No Longer a Pistol

Once again, the Biden Administration is threatening to strip law abiding gun owners of their second amendment rights. Specifically, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has announced a new proposed rule to define the use of a pistol with a stabilizing brace as a short-barreled rifle! This would include a burdensome bureaucratic process as well as having to pay a $200 National Firearms Act tax. 

To address this backdoor handgun regulation, I cosponsored the Protecting Individual Sovereignty Through Our Laws (PISTOL) Act which provides a statutory definition of what constitutes a pistol that is not subject to bureaucratic interpretation. 

Click here to read a copy of the legislation.  

Cherry Blossom Princess

Cherry Blossom Princess

I am proud of my former intern, Beni Harmony as she represented the State of Arizona as Miss Cherry Blossom. The Cherry Blossom Princess Program is a week-long program that offers cultural, educational, and professional development opportunities for young women leaders, ages 19 through 24, from across the United States and around the world. Young women leaders are selected by a State/Territorial Society or International Embassy to be Cherry Blossom Princesses based on their leadership and academic achievements along with their interest in social, civic, community, and world affairs. Two current U.S. Senators, the Honorable Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia and the Honorable Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, are both alumnae of the Program. Thank you for representing Arizona so well, Beni!

To learn more about the Miss Cherry Blossom program, click here.

Gosar In the News and Other Stories We Think You’ll Want to Know

E&E News, Gosar Wants Answers on Minerals Strategy, Canada Meeting

Norfolk Daily News, Shut Down the Jan. 6 Gulag

KYMA, SCOTUS Rules No Green Card Entry for TPS if Entered Illegally

Fox News, 68 GOP Members Send Letter to Biden Admin Slamming POTUS for Waiving Nord Stream 2 Pipeline Sanctions

Oversight Republicans, Opioid Epidemic Hearing Wrap Up: Biden Must Secure the Border to Slow the Opioid Epidemic 

Fox Business, GOP Lawmakers Demand Biden Administration End Federal Unemployment Benefits 

Resources

I work for YOU!

I want to serve my constituents in any way I can. Whether you need help with a federal agency, are trying to find out if federal grants are available for your project, or are considering applying to a service academy, my office is always here to help. 

• Help With a Federal Agency
• Federal Job Postings
• Help With Federal Grants
• Service  Academy Nominations

Additionally, the phone numbers for all of my offices are listed at the bottom of this email.

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