‘Everyone was crying’: Photo shows fallen veteran’s homecoming
When a plane landed in a US airport this week the captain made a tragic announcement that brought tears to the eyes of everyone on board.
The Delta flight landed on Wednesday night in Oklahoma City, with passenger Mike Helms recalling the captain’s announcement they had flown with a fallen sailor, Brooke Newtown.
The US Navy sailor’s body was being flown home to her family.
Helms said the pilot requested that all passengers remain on the plane, until the fallen sailor had first been removed.
He also requested that passengers observe a moment of silence.
Helms said upon glancing outside the window of the plane he then spotted the casket, carrying the fallen sailor.
It was draped in an American flag and next to it was what appeared to be a mother and father uncontrollably crying.
“This moment hit me hard for some reason. I couldn't hold back tears,” Helms wrote on his Facebook page.
“As I looked around the plane, I was hoping nobody would see my moment of weakness but to my surprise, damn near everyone on the plane was crying,” he continued.
“The plane was filled with people of all races and religions. It was amazing to see everyone on that plane pay tribute to this woman and her family.”
Newton died on August 30 in California, according to an obituary in the Edmond Sun.
She began her military service in high school by joining the Air National Guard and joined the Navy after graduation university.
“Brooke was a lover of oldies music, a friend to all animals, a member of the Chickasaw Nation, a proud Veteran, and an Oklahoma girl,” the obituary concluded.
The incredibly moving post has been shared 250,000 times.
