thedrifter
01-13-07, 09:06 AM
‘Honor covers’ mark shipped caskets
By Karen Jowers - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Jan 13, 2007 6:57:30 EST
An “honor cover” now will be placed over the caskets of all fallen service members while they are being transported to their final destinations, defense officials said.
It is an adaptation of the cover that airlines traditionally have used to secure caskets — the same reinforced cardboard cover, with a wooden base and straps. But these honor covers are embossed with an American flag on the top and over the side, with the Defense Department seal at each end.
“This gives more visibility during the transport process,” said Air Force Col. Michael Pachuta, director of morale, welfare and recreation policy in the Defense Department.
Pachuta said it will help ensure that those handling the coffin along the way understand it is the remains of a fallen service member, so they should handle it with due care and respect.
Once the casket reaches its final destination, the military escort removes the honor cover and places the American flag over the coffin, before the honor guard carries it to the hearse or other transportation. Military escorts have instructions for carrying out this detail.
The honor cover was designed and tested by the Army in cooperation with the Air Transport Association, in response to feedback the Army has received from military escorts who accompany the remains of service members, as well as family members of the fallen, Pachuta said. The cover is used only once.
The Army has been using the honor covers since October.
The honor covers are an addition to provisions for the transportation of fallen service members that took effect Jan. 1, mandated by Congress in the 2007 defense authorization bill. These provisions were mandated after lawmakers learned of some instances where loved one’s remains were returned as freight on commercial airliners and were not met by honor guards.
The law requires that remains returned to the U.S. through the mortuary at Dover Air Force Base, Del., receive a continuous military escort to their final destinations.
It mandates that the primary mode for transporting the caskets of service members from Dover to their final destination is military aircraft or military-contracted aircraft. The primary mission of that aircraft must be the transportation of the remains.
The remains will have a continuous military escort. Also, an honor guard detail will either travel with the remains with the military escort or meet the remains at the destination, will provide appropriate honors at the arrival and will carry the flag-draped casket to a hearse or other form of transportation.
The service member’s next of kin may request that the casket be transported on a commercial aircraft, and they can decline an honor guard escort, according to the law.
By not using scheduled commercial airlines for transporting the caskets, it will be easier to accommodate honor guards and hearses, Pachuta said. Most airports have private areas, and typically military and military contract aircraft park there.
Although its efforts may not have been seen by most people, the airline industry has been working closely with defense officials to ensure that every fallen soldier is transported with dignity and honor, said David Castelveter, a spokesman for the Air Transport Association. Not every airline has taken all or part of these steps, but some examples include:
**Designing and purchasing special carts for transporting the casket to the hearse or other transportation.
Castelveter said he has seen pictures of a Delta cart with the American flag, and the seals of each of the services. American Airlines’ cart is painted blue, with the drape on the side resembling the American flag.
Continental Airlines designed special ground equipment and carts, said Rich Paegel, managing director for cargo. The cart is “pure snow white,” and is used only for military caskets, he said.
**Where possible, airlines or airports may arrange for the “water-cannon salute” typically provided on rare special occasions, such as when a pilot flies his last flight of his career. Two fire trucks shoot an arc of water into the air over the plane to pay tribute to the fallen service member.
**Centralized booking processes for casualty transportation, ensuring that the person in the casket gets the respect deserved throughout the process.
Paegel said when Dover Air Force Base officials book a flight for a service member’s casket, an e-mail alert is launched at Continental headquarters and to all those who will be involved. Local advisories also go to aircraft police departments and fire and rescue units.
**Working to get family members on the tarmac, as well as military honor guards so that they can board the belly of the aircraft first and drape the flag over the casket.
Paegel said many of the ramp personnel are former military, “so they are particularly making sure it’s done right” in the respect paid while the casket is being removed from the airplane and airport.
Until early last year, he said, Continental used the same ground equipment and carts for service members’ caskets that they used for freight.
“But we had some employees, including a pilot who is former military, who said maybe we were not as respectful as we could be,” Paegel said.
They’ve kept what they do very low key, he said.
“Some families prefer not to have the attention, but in general, it is well received ...
“I’m of the opinion that we will still be called upon by Dover,” Paegel said
Ellie
By Karen Jowers - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Jan 13, 2007 6:57:30 EST
An “honor cover” now will be placed over the caskets of all fallen service members while they are being transported to their final destinations, defense officials said.
It is an adaptation of the cover that airlines traditionally have used to secure caskets — the same reinforced cardboard cover, with a wooden base and straps. But these honor covers are embossed with an American flag on the top and over the side, with the Defense Department seal at each end.
“This gives more visibility during the transport process,” said Air Force Col. Michael Pachuta, director of morale, welfare and recreation policy in the Defense Department.
Pachuta said it will help ensure that those handling the coffin along the way understand it is the remains of a fallen service member, so they should handle it with due care and respect.
Once the casket reaches its final destination, the military escort removes the honor cover and places the American flag over the coffin, before the honor guard carries it to the hearse or other transportation. Military escorts have instructions for carrying out this detail.
The honor cover was designed and tested by the Army in cooperation with the Air Transport Association, in response to feedback the Army has received from military escorts who accompany the remains of service members, as well as family members of the fallen, Pachuta said. The cover is used only once.
The Army has been using the honor covers since October.
The honor covers are an addition to provisions for the transportation of fallen service members that took effect Jan. 1, mandated by Congress in the 2007 defense authorization bill. These provisions were mandated after lawmakers learned of some instances where loved one’s remains were returned as freight on commercial airliners and were not met by honor guards.
The law requires that remains returned to the U.S. through the mortuary at Dover Air Force Base, Del., receive a continuous military escort to their final destinations.
It mandates that the primary mode for transporting the caskets of service members from Dover to their final destination is military aircraft or military-contracted aircraft. The primary mission of that aircraft must be the transportation of the remains.
The remains will have a continuous military escort. Also, an honor guard detail will either travel with the remains with the military escort or meet the remains at the destination, will provide appropriate honors at the arrival and will carry the flag-draped casket to a hearse or other form of transportation.
The service member’s next of kin may request that the casket be transported on a commercial aircraft, and they can decline an honor guard escort, according to the law.
By not using scheduled commercial airlines for transporting the caskets, it will be easier to accommodate honor guards and hearses, Pachuta said. Most airports have private areas, and typically military and military contract aircraft park there.
Although its efforts may not have been seen by most people, the airline industry has been working closely with defense officials to ensure that every fallen soldier is transported with dignity and honor, said David Castelveter, a spokesman for the Air Transport Association. Not every airline has taken all or part of these steps, but some examples include:
**Designing and purchasing special carts for transporting the casket to the hearse or other transportation.
Castelveter said he has seen pictures of a Delta cart with the American flag, and the seals of each of the services. American Airlines’ cart is painted blue, with the drape on the side resembling the American flag.
Continental Airlines designed special ground equipment and carts, said Rich Paegel, managing director for cargo. The cart is “pure snow white,” and is used only for military caskets, he said.
**Where possible, airlines or airports may arrange for the “water-cannon salute” typically provided on rare special occasions, such as when a pilot flies his last flight of his career. Two fire trucks shoot an arc of water into the air over the plane to pay tribute to the fallen service member.
**Centralized booking processes for casualty transportation, ensuring that the person in the casket gets the respect deserved throughout the process.
Paegel said when Dover Air Force Base officials book a flight for a service member’s casket, an e-mail alert is launched at Continental headquarters and to all those who will be involved. Local advisories also go to aircraft police departments and fire and rescue units.
**Working to get family members on the tarmac, as well as military honor guards so that they can board the belly of the aircraft first and drape the flag over the casket.
Paegel said many of the ramp personnel are former military, “so they are particularly making sure it’s done right” in the respect paid while the casket is being removed from the airplane and airport.
Until early last year, he said, Continental used the same ground equipment and carts for service members’ caskets that they used for freight.
“But we had some employees, including a pilot who is former military, who said maybe we were not as respectful as we could be,” Paegel said.
They’ve kept what they do very low key, he said.
“Some families prefer not to have the attention, but in general, it is well received ...
“I’m of the opinion that we will still be called upon by Dover,” Paegel said
Ellie