Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Video: Captain Jennifer Harris Memorial

The funeral service for Marine Captain Jennifer J. Harris happened this week. I started following her story after the Sea Knight (naval version of the Chinook) medevac helicopter she was piloting was shot down in Iraq. It wasn't too hard to pick up on what a remarkable person she must have been. I went to check on YouTube this morning to see if there was any footage of her memorial services, and there is some video of the outside of her family's church in Swampscott, Massachusetts, along with a short audio recording of a eulogy given by her former Annapolis roomie.

A bunch of people and police are outside in the freezing cold, holding flags and waiting for her procession to come out of the church. I'm kind of old-fashioned, and don't think it's right to bomb women and children, so I don't really even know what to feel about a female pilot being shot down in a war zone. Nothing in my upbringing prepared me for the possibility...but here it is, and it's not good. This brave young woman represents the finest this country and picture-postcard towns have to offer. No doubt she wanted to make the world a better place, and did. Medevac pilots like her never have to pay for their own drinks in bars when there are soldiers or vets around, because they save lives and rescue the wounded. Her family has put up a Legacy.com Guest Book to sign and leave well wishes.

No comments: