Ellis Island for the heroes

America receives her fallen in Delaware:

All of the Americans killed overseas are transported home through Dover Air Force Base. The C-5 Galaxy planes lumber into Dover with coffins in their cargo bays. A senior officer and one of the six chaplains on the base greet every plane. The coffins are draped with flags, carried off the planes and transported by van to the mortuary that sits next to the giant airstrip, as the chaplain recites a short prayer ....

"One thing that amazes me in there: that America never sees how respectfully those remains are treated," [Chaplain] Groth said. "The coffins are sealed and never opened again, but you see fellow soldiers making sure that uniform that is never going to be seen is again perfectly pressed."

Bryan Bender of the Boston Globe, via IHT.