Mortuary Center Cares for Families

Robin Raine straightens up the sitting area of the Center for Families of the Fallen at Dover Air Force Base, Del., Feb. 22, 2010. The center offers a comfortable waiting area for families who travel to Dover to attend a dignified transfer, an event that marks the return of a fallen servicemember to U.S. soil. DoD photo by Elaine Wilson

By Elaine Wilson, AFPS
March 22, 2010
elaine.wilson@dma.mil

I traveled to Dover Air Force Base, Del., last month to gather information for a series of articles on the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations Center.
 
Every U.S. military member who dies in support of a combat operation overseas comes through the center, where the remains are prepared for burial.

It’s a sensitive mission, but the staff handles each step with the utmost dignity and attention to detail. From the dignified transfer event that marks a fallen servicemember’s return to U.S. soil (“Dignified Transfer Pays Tribute to Fallen”)  to the care taken in preparing a uniform for a burial (“Mortuary Staff Prepares Uniforms for Fallen”) , I was blown away by the attention to detail and the honor infused into every action.

Along with caring for fallen servicemembers, the center’s staff also is dedicated to supporting their families.

The Center for Families of the Fallen offers families a comfortable place to wait for their loved one to return stateside. The center is absolutely beautiful and offers everything from a fully stocked kitchen to a toy-filled nursery and children’s room.

It was evident to me from the start that the center’s staff cares deeply about their mission. You can read more about the center in my American Forces Press Service article, “Center Offers Respite for Families of Fallen.”

I wrote several other stories about the mission there, and I hope the admiration and awe I felt for the center shines through. Please take a few minutes to visit our American Forces Press Service Web special: “Dignity, Honor, Respect for the Fallen.”