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Mortuary mission part of Dover’s silent history

  • Published
  • By Cory Larsen
  • AFMAO Operations Support Branch chief
Dover Air Force Base, Delaware has been in existence since 1948, and its mission today is to: safely fix and fly aircraft, prepare and deploy people, move cargo and to return America's fallen heroes with dignity, honor and respect. Dover AFB is home to the Department of Defense's only port mortuary, the returning point for those brave souls who have given the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country.

Since the beginning of human conflicts, nations have honored their fallen warriors in various types of ceremonies and traditions. Throughout our great nation's history we have lost brothers, sisters, husbands, wives and good friends to the perils of war. These heroes have always stepped up and fought for freedom and democracy, not only for the United States, but for those who could not fight for themselves. Our fallen deserve the utmost dignity, honor and respect.

Our United States began a heritage to honor every fallen comrade as early as the Revolutionary War. British Prime Minister William Gladstone once said, "Show me the manner in which a nation cares for its dead and I will measure, with mathematical exactness, the tender mercies of its people, their respect for the laws of the land and their loyalty to high ideals."

During World War I and II, fallen comrades were often laid to rest by their fellow soldiers, sailors and Marines in permanent overseas American military cemeteries. Today, hundreds of thousands of American war dead remain buried in cemeteries across Europe. These interments were made by the American Graves Registration Service and the Quartermaster General of the War Department.

When the interment program was completed, the cemeteries were turned over to the American Battle Monuments Commission for maintenance and administration.

During Vietnam, the procedures for honoring our fallen changed and every effort possible was made to ensure all were returned to the United States. At the time there were two DOD port mortuaries in service in the continental United States.

The deceased were returned home based on their home of record; east of the Mississippi transited through Dover AFB, west of the Mississippi through Travis AFB, California.

In the years since Vietnam, Dover has developed and redefined a process to transfer our fallen when they arrive. This process is called a dignified transfer. The dignified transfer is a solemn and respectful process that returns America's fallen to U.S. soil with dignity and honor.

Honor guards from each branch of service participate in DT's, along with flag officers, Dover AFB colonels, chaplains and Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations personnel. Volunteers from the Delaware USO support the participants of each DT by providing meals or snacks and general hospitality, no matter the time of day. Additionally, the Friends of the Fallen, a non-profit volunteer group, are always on-hand to support the families who travel to Dover for the DT of their loved one. When AFMAO is notified of an incoming flight with deceased personnel onboard, the honor guard and flag officers of the fallen's branch of service are notified, and then travel to Dover for the arrival of their comrades. Honors are rendered for every returning hero as they are transferred from aircraft to mortuary vehicles.

No matter the hour of the day or the day of the year, our dedicated team is here to pay our respects by bringing our fallen back with dignified transfers. Today's dignified transfer can be credited to the foresight of open-minded, fair and honest leaders and to a deep feeling of reverence we have for our fallen. The men and women of the DOD will continue to move toward the horizons of our future to provide these heroes the dignity, honor and respect they have earned and ensure families receive the care, service and support they deserve -- anytime, anywhere, until all are returned home. The dignified transfer is a true measure of our commitment to one another, and a reflection of American society's admiration for our service members.