Please take the time to read this below. It is a 
great, true story. The letter was written by Senior 
Investigator Jack Graham of the New York State Police 
to fellow members of the NY State Police and to the 
Syracuse Police who, on April 17, 2003, participated 
in a hastily planned ceremonial escort for a soldier 
killed in Iraq. These are the kinds of stories that 
make us proud to be an American. 

The abbreviation "SP" means "State Police" and it 
refers to a station. 
For instance, SP Loudonville, NY. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On Thursday, April 17, 2003 you participated in an 
escort detail for GREGORY P. HUXLEY JR who was killed 
in action in Iraq on April 6, 
2003. On behalf of the entire Huxley family and from 
me, personally, I want to say "Thank you very much." 
Your professionalism, dedication and sincerity meant 
so much to the Huxley family, that words cannot 
describe their feelings at this time. 

What most did not know was that the US Army had 
promised the family members that they would be taken 
to Dover, Delaware to be present when their son 
arrived from Iraq and there would be a full military 
ceremony in Dover for GREGORY. Unfortunately, there 
was a communication problem and they were not present 
during that ceremony. 

Then they were informed that the body of their son was 
being flown to Syracuse and that the funeral director 
could pick up the "fallen soldier" at the cargo aea 
of the airport and that somebody would help them 
remove the casket from the cardboard shipping 
container for transport to Boonville, NY. 

The funeral director felt that unacceptable for a 
nineteen year old young man that gave his life for 
this country and for the freedom of so many others. 
As a family friend he contacted me to see if anything 
could be done. We now had six hours before GREGORY 
arrived in Syracuse. 

Phone calls were made to SP North Syracuse and SGT 
Nick Harmatiuk took over from there. What you 
participated in and observed the rest of that day was 
truly an outstanding display of what this agency can 
do in very short time. 

What happened was just visually and emotionally 
overwhelming. 

The procession left SP North Syracuse led by eight 
Syracuse PD motorcycles, followed by the hearse, four 
cars with family members and followed by ten State 
Police and Syracuse PD cars. How ironic it was that 
when the procession was traveling parallel to the 
runway, the plane carrying GREGORY landed next to it. 
We were able to enter the planes cargo area and remove 
the shipping crate from the casket and drape the 
American flag over the casket. When the casket 
traveled down the conveyor belt, fifteen New York 
State Troopers and the same amount of Syracuse 
Policemen lined the path to the awaiting hearse - all 
at attention. A hand salute was executed as six State 
Troopers proudly bore the flag draped coffin to the 
hearse. After a short prayer, the family was given 
some time to welcome their son home. 

The entire airport was so quiet. I looked up at the 
concourse windows and saw a hundred or more people. 
They were all standing, watching, with their hands 
over their hearts, saluting a young man that they did 
not know. Somehow they learned that a fallen soldier 
had come home and they wanted to honor his sacrifice. 

The casket was then placed in the hearse and the 
procession left the airport in the same fashion as we 
arrived, only this time with a young hero that our 
hearts will never forget. 

The motorcade was escorted to the thruway entrance by 
the Syracuse Police Department's motorcycles. All 
traffic was stopped for the procession and we headed 
east towards Boonville. After getting off the 
thruway, we found that every intersection that the 
procession encountered was controlled by State 
Troopers, allowing us a safe, unimpeded passage. At 
each intersection, the State Trooper stood at 
attention, saluting the fallen soldier and his family, 
giving him and his family the respect that they 
deserved. How emotional that was to see and now to 
reflect on. 

When entering the Village of Boonville, the main 
street was decorated with an infinite number of 
American Flags and yellow ribbons. As we approached 
the center of town, all of the church bells began to 
peal at once recognizing and saluting Gregory's 
arrival. Hundreds of people holding American flags 
lined the street, some with their hand over their 
heart and some weeping for GREGORY for what he 
sacrificed, for us and his country. As we drove by 
the village park, the National Anthem was being 
played, for GREGORY, and I think, for all of us. 

At the funeral home, eight veterans lifted the casket 
out of the hearse and into the home with the family. 
GREGORY had returned home. 

GREGORY'S family said to me later that the images I 
have just described will always be etched in their 
hearts, forever. But the one memory that will always 
be there first, was of the State Troopers at the 
airport, standing at attention, saluting, with tears 
running down their cheeks for their son, a fallen 
soldier. A hero whom those Troopers never personally 
knew. 

Our jobs take many different avenues in life. We hope 
that during our day or shift that we have made a 
difference, a positive contribution. 
On this occasion you did just that. An entire family 
knows that you cared to do your very best to honor 
their son. Their words and expressions told me just 
that. We made a difference yesterday, and we did it 
well. 

The rewards we receive for details like this one do 
not come from anywhere but from the heart. Take pride 
in what you accomplished, because it was distinct and 
without equal in this Trooper's eye. I have had so 
many good things happen since I have been a State 
Trooper, but in those twenty fours years, I have never 
been more proud the New York State Police as I was 
yesterday - A fallen soldier, a hero, a son, a brother 
has finally come home, in grand deserving style, 
thanks to all of you. 

Jack Graham 
Senior Investigator 
New York State Police