20 years of the Delta Honor Guard
Source: Delta Air Lines As the Delta Honor Guard marks its 20th anniversary, one of its founders reflects on the group’s earliest days and shares poignant memories of paying tribute to fallen heroes. One evening at the Atlanta airport, Tom Schenk — a close friend, coworker and 20-year Navy veteran — noticed a Marine saluting a coffin wrapped in cardboard as it descended a belt loader. The area was chaotic, packed with luggage and busy drivers, leaving the casket and escort unattended. No one was helping move the remains to the next flight. Tom joined the Marine in her salute and learned, through her tears, that the casket held her brother, killed while protecting his fellow Marines during an ambush. [...]