May 25, 2013 - The soldier bent to his work, careful as a diamond cutter. He carried no weapon or rucksack, just a small plastic ruler, which he used to align a name plate, just so, atop the breast pocket of an Army dress blue jacket, size 39R.“Blanchard,” the plate read.
Capt. Aaron R. Blanchard, a 32-year-old Army pilot, had been in Afghanistan for only a few days when an enemy rocket killed him and another soldier last month as they dashed toward their helicopter. Now he was heading home.
But before he left the mortuary here, he would need to be properly dressed. And so Staff Sgt. Miguel Deynes labored meticulously, almost lovingly, over every crease and fold, every ribbon and badge, of the dress uniform that would clothe Captain Blanchard in his final resting place.
“It’s more than an honor,” Sergeant Deynes said. “It’s a blessing to dress that soldier for the last time.” read more, and listen from lefthand bar>>>
May 26, 2013 - The military gives the spouses of fallen soldiers the option of going to Dover Air Force Base to greet those flag-draped coffins.Crystal Blasjo, despite the responsibility of her infant son, Talon, never considered not going to Dover, Del.
So it was that she spent Memorial Day two years ago working out the travel arrangements, making sure she would be there when the body of the love of her life, Sgt. Aaron Blasjo, arrived home from Afghanistan.
The plane landed, the doors opened and Crystal handed her baby to her sister. Her knees buckled, and her father caught her just in time.
"I kept thinking, he's right there,'' she said. "I waited all this time for him to come home, but I can't touch him, I can't hear his voice.''
And for her, like so many others, the true meaning of Memorial Day is forever imprinted on her heart. read more>>>
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