I had never met him. I had never seen him. I didn’t even know his name before that day.
But then I stood on the flightline staring at a black coffin draped in the Stars and Stripes. It didn’t matter whether or not I knew this Marine, because I could feel his impact.
Members of the base and local community showed up for this dignified transfer in force. A full formation of Marines divided the hearse from the series of cars that lined the aircraft hangar doors, with an honor guard ready to receive their fallen brother after he arrived by plane. More than 20 K-9 handlers and their dogs filled the flightline in respect of one of their own because the plane was not only carrying an American warrior, but also the remains of his military working dog partner.
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