Tuesday, May 28, 2024 Alaska ’s Fallen Soldier Program has been a beacon of honor and respect for fallen military service members and their families. Initiated by a group of dedicated maintenance and engineering team members in 2011, the Fallen Soldier Program stands as a testament to ensuring that proper military protocols are observed in handling the remains of those who have bravely served our nation, ensuring they are transported to their final resting place with the utmost dignity and reverence. At the heart of this program are specially customized carts, ingeniously crafted by skilled technicians, strategically positioned at 15 airports across the nation.
These carts serve as solemn conveyances, facilitating the respectful transport of military service members’ remains to and from aircraft, available for use by any airline. When a flag-draped casket is flown on Alaska Airlines, it receives utmost priority, being the first item unloaded from the plane and delicately placed onto a Fallen Soldier Cart. Passengers on board are respectfully requested to remain seated until the fallen service member’s escort or family has disembarked the aircraft.
Many passengers choose to honor this request by remaining seated until the casket is respectfully removed, though it is not obligatory. Meanwhile, on the tarmac, ramp agents and maintenance technicians stand in solemn reverence, paying homage to the fallen hero. Alaska’s Fallen Soldier Program team recently organized a touch.