I was in Detroit today waiting for my flight to Richmond, VA.  Next to our gate, there was another plane awaiting a flight to Philadelphia.  Everyone in the area took notice of the Marine in the gate area, lingering between the two flights.  After all, how often do you see a Marine in dress blues?   

The Marine was speaking in hushed tones and had his cover off and in his hand.  He was talking with 3 people–one from the airport, one from the airline, and one was a photographer (he had one heck of a camera).  About the time the Philadelphia flight was having its baggage loaded, three of them disappeared, leaving the photographer in the gate area.   

The three of them reappeared in the ramp area–where the workers were removing luggage from the plane.  The Marine had his cover on.  He stood alone–to the side–watching everyone work around him.   

Then they pulled up a new baggage cart and moved the conveyor belt from the plane to the cart, lowering it.  The Marine snapped to attention as a single coffin was removed from the baggage cart and placed onto the conveyor belt.  People in the gate area started wondering what was going on; the photographer snapped pictures.  A man next to me said, "I can't watch.  It's a coffin." and walked away.  Tears came to my eyes as the Marine walked next to the coffin while it was moved to the plane and loaded into the cargo hold.   

After the move was complete and the coffin was safe, he returned to the jetway and boarded the plane, accompanying this Marine on his or her final journey home.