Pamela Dee Gaudry was a passenger on a flight that landed in Atlanta last weekend that was also carrying the body of fallen soldier – 29-year-old Army Staff Sgt. Dusting Wright.
Gaudry, who is the wife of a deceased Army captain had learned of the soldier being on board while en route to Atlanta. She wanted to honor the fallen soldier who was among four U.S. troops killed in a battle near Niger on Oct. 4, by singing the national anthem. She asked everyone on board to sing with her saying “I thought it would be so amazing if we sang as they were getting off, It’s a great honor to the boy’s parents, wife and perhaps children.”
Before long, the chief flight attendant approached her and informed her that it was against Delta’s policy that passengers be allowed to sing the national anthem. She was also told that there were passengers on the plane that were from other countries and could be offended by the singing.
Gaudry said, “I’m humiliated by my lack of courage to sing the national anthem in my own country on American soil, with a deceased soldier on the plane. I wish I could have been an example for my children, I’m glad my former husband is deceased because he would have been profoundly disappointed in me.”
The Facebook post that Gaudry made after the incident has since gone viral.
A complete lack of courage on my part…As God as my witness, I promise that it will not happen again.God bless this great country. We need it desperately Please share…..
Posted by Pamela Dee Gaudry on Saturday, October 14, 2017
The airline took notice and issued an apology and said it is not company policy to prevent passengers from singing the National Anthem.
Gaudry handled the situation with class saying “Evidently, they had a flight attendant that made some bad decisions in trying to make this situation go away. They are going to do some training for the future, Delta was very reverent and let the honor guards do a wonderful thing to honor each and every soldier that comes home with this beautiful tribute. For just this reason, I personally do not believe in a boycott of Delta.”
She also added “Delta has apologized to me. Profusely. I accept. Like many things in life…it should have been handled differently. I am not throwing any stones,” she added.