To honor the fallen …

Dear Editor:
My family and I were recently on a flight to Hartford, Conn. Before the doors of the airplane closed, we noticed a Navy officer come on board in full dress uniform and, though it was a bit odd to see someone traveling in full dress uniform and the flight attendants appeared to make a fuss over him, we did not think much about it.

When we arrived in Hartford, the officer was escorted to the front and exited first so I began to think there was something more to this. As we left the plane, we noticed a full honor guard, now with the officer, along with a hearse and special loading equipment. A flight attendant then told us that the plane had been carrying a sailor who had fallen in Iraq and the officer was on the flight to accompany the body back to Hartford.

Along with most of the other passengers, we stood in the airport terminal and watched them unload the flag draped casket. The honor guard reverently carried the casket to the waiting hearse with solemnity and formality. They never looked or seemed to care whether anyone was watching. I asked a gate attendant about it and was told that this happens whenever there is a military person coming through the airport. There is always an officer escort in full dress and always an honor guard to receive the casket. She told me that often the family is allowed to the gate to watch the unloading and there is a special pass that let’s them enter the gate area even though they are not ticketed passengers (since normally security regulations prevent anyone who is not a ticketed passenger from being in the gate area).

I was struck as I watched all of this how important it is that we honor our troops. I have no idea who that deceased sailor was. I do not know if the sailor was a he or a she, an officer or an enlisted person or even how the sailor died but I know that that sailor was serving this country and, by extension, serving to protect me. I hear a lot of debate about whether we should have gone into Iraq, how we should leave Iraq or when but one thing I also always hear and see is the deep reverence that people seem to have for all of our troops. I know some troops may get copies of The Manning Times and I know readers have friends or family who serve and I just wanted to take a minute, in honor of that fallen sailor, to pause and say “Thank you” to them for serving and ask everyone to join me in praying for their safety and well-being.

Sincerely,
W.T. “Tommy” Geddings Jr.
Manning, S.C.

The angel among us …

Dear Editor,
Did you know you have an angel living among you in Manning?

His name is Hartwell Briggs. Mr. Briggs saved my life one night when he rescued my friend and I from a dark and deserted highway when our car broke down. We were on our way back home to Hilton Head after visiting friends, the car overheated out in the middle of nowhere and we were SCARED!

Thank God, Mr. Briggs stopped to help us. Even though he was on his way to a dinner party, he followed us to a gas station to drop off the car and then gave us a ride back to our friend’s house. He was surely very late for his party or missed it all together, but he continued to help us with a smile on his face. I don’t know what we would have down if he hadn’t stopped.

We are convinced God sent an angel to help us. We want to thank Mr. Briggs and your awesome town for showing us what true southern hospitality is.

Sincerely,
Beth Field
Hilton Head Island, S.C.