Shameful: What Some Passengers Did to the Family of This Fallen Soldier

News Staff : Nov 21, 2016
CBN News

Perry says his son's death comes at a time military service is facing disrespect. He said his family was booed on the flight to bring his son's body home over a delay.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The 'booing' passengers on the American Airlines flight which carried this Gold Star Family to their son's remains should be ashamed of themselves. According to the article, an announcement was made that the delay was to aid this military family in reaching their connection, so—in my mind—there was no excuse. How did we come so far away from giving respect and honor where it is due? Are we so wrapped up in our own little world that we cannot wait while a family, who has already given their own son to defend our freedoms, tries to reach their next flight before it leaves? And some of the booing passengers were in first-class?! C'mon man! If you're flying in first-class, you really have NOTHING to complain about, let alone a slight delay to help a military family. This family SHOULD have received an ovation instead of boos and complaints. Please—I know how stressful traveling, and specifically flying, can be—but let's not be too busy to be polite, and to show respect. Especially for those who are defending this great Nation, and their families who love them dearly. -Aimee Herd, BCN. (Photo: Sgt. John Perry/AP/via CBN News)

[CBN News] A Gold Star family was recently booed by first-class passengers because their trip to pick up their son's remains caused a delay.
 
Stewart Perry, a Marine veteran, was traveling from Sacramento to Philadelphia to pick up the remains of his son, Army combat instructor Sgt. John Perry.
 
Perry, 30, died last Saturday at Bagram Field in Afghanistan after stopping a suicide bomber from hitting a soldier's 5K Veterans Day run to benefit disabled veterans.
 
"He would have killed 100, 200, who knows?" Perry told KOVR-TV.
 
"I want people to know about the heroic thing that my son did," he said during an interview.
 
Perry says his son's death comes at a time military service is facing disrespect. He said his family was booed on the flight to bring his son's body home over a delay.
 
Perry said the flight to Arizona was 45 minutes late in arriving and the American Airlines crew, who feared the delay would cause the family to miss their connecting flight had the captain make an announcement "for everyone to stay seated and to let 'a special military family' exit the aircraft first."
 
First-class passengers complained and booed.
 
"To hear the reaction of the flight being delayed because of a Gold Star family, and the first class cabin booing that was really upsetting, and it made us cry some more," Perry said.
 
Perry told KOVR-TV it is important for people to recognize the symbolism of the American flag and those who lay their lives down for it.
 
"It's not for protest—it's for the death of the people that are saving us. That's what it's for," he said.
 
The Department of Defense said 30-year-old Perry and 20-year-old Pfc. Tyler R. Iubelt of Tamaroa, Illinois were assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Special Troops Battalion, 1st Sustainment Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division out of Fort Hood, Texas.
 
Both received a Purple Heart Medal and a Bronze Star, among other awards.
 
A memorial service was held at Bagram Airfield on Friday for the soldiers.
 
Perry leaves behind a wife of eight years and two children.