Robins Honor Guard members carry the casket of Senior Airman Michael Buras to an awaiting hearse Oct. 2, 2010 on the Robins flightline Saturday. (U. S. Air Force photo/Gary Cutrell)
Commentary by Faye Banks-Anderson
78th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
10/8/2010 - ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Everything was put into perspective for me Oct. 2 when the flag-draped coffin of Senior Airman Michael Buras was removed from an aircraft on the Robins Air Force Base flightline.
It was the first time I had witnessed a dignified transfer of a fallen military member.
Airman Buras, 23, of Fitzgerald, Ga., died Sept. 21 of wounds suffered during an IED detonation in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
What I saw made me realize all the problems I thought were important are really not that significant. Seeing the coffin of this warrior who gave his life for our country his grieving family, and the Robins AFB Honor Guard made me realize it's time to stop complaining, stop feeling bad when my job isn't all I think it should be and stop blaming everyone else when things don't go the way I think they should.
But what the ceremony did most was remind me of the importance of my job, which is to support the warfighter.
Whether you're a civilian, a contractor, an officer or an enlisted Airman, or manager or employee, know your job also supports those in harm's way and is important.
It's not often we have such poignant reminders of the battles in which our country is engaged.
It's not every day our sacrifices, no matter how many and no matter how big or small, are justly put in to perspective.
But, every day, the sacrifices of Senior Airman Buras and the other brave Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice, should never be far from our thoughts.
