S.D. Human Relations Commission to Couple who turn grief over fallen son into action.

uploaded by Pat Garcia October 25, 2008 at 06:41 am
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S.D. Human Relations Commission to Couple who turn grief over fallen son into action. by Pat Garcia

Thanks to the rage and grief of a couple's who found out his fallen son was going to be delivered as cargo America's fallen troops are now being brought back to their families with honor in charter jets instead of ordinary commercial flights, the caskets are being met by honor guards in white gloves instead of cargo by baggage handlers with forklifts.As a result to their action the “Holley provision” was added to federal legislation making this possible

After their only child was killed in Iraq in 2005, John and Stacey Holley decided to channel their anguish into something positive to make a difference for other grieving parents.
The Carmel Valley couple had been aghast to learn that their son, a combat medic, would make his final trip home in the cargo hold of a commercial jet. They quickly lobbied for more respectful treatment for both him and other military personnel who had sacrificed their lives for their country.
As a result, the “Holley provision” was added to federal legislation mandating the return of fallen heroes' coffins aboard military or charter jets. Furthermore, they must be met by uniformed honor guards instead of baggage handlers with forklifts.
But the Holleys' mission hasn't stopped there. They now are creating a foundation in the name of their son, Matthew Holley, to present scholarships to deserving teenagers. Two $500 scholarships in karate, his favorite sport, were given out this spring. Scholarships also will be presented to aspiring young graphic artists.
After all, Matthew's last phone call home was a request for crayons so he could teach Iraqi kids to draw.
Today, however, Matthew's parents are getting the recognition as the S.D. Human Relations Commission gives them its first annual award.
“They turned their grief into a gift for other people,” says commission head Nicole Murray-Ramirez.
The award is named in honor of Keith Turnham, a World War II prisoner of war with terminal cancer, who served on the commission for eight years. Turnham will present it today at the downtown Witherby event center.

More than 3,500 Americans have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Before the new law was passed by Congress, the dead that arrived from overseas at the military mortuary in Dover, Del., were then typically flown to the commercial airport nearest their families.

Some were met by smartly uniformed military honor guards. But in other cases, the flag-draped caskets were unceremoniously taken off the plane by ordinary ground crew members and handed over to the family at a warehouse in a cargo area.

The legislation ensuring such treatment bears his name: the Holley Provision, which the Pentagon quietly started following in January.
“I don't know what Matthew would've thought about this, because he was a private person. But I am sure he would've been glad that because of him, other soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen were properly honored,” said his father, John Holley.
“This is an awesome thing. I am glad the government has adopted the policy it should have had from the beginning,” said Holley, who tears up when talking about his son.

Matthew Holley was a resident of The Colony from 1992 to 1999. He attended Camey Elementary and Griffin Middle School.

He was the son of John and Stacey Holley, both Army Veterans. He followed in his father's footsteps by earning his jump wings from the 101st Airborne as his father did years before.

On November 15, 2005, Matthew paid the ultimate sacrifice and died of injuries sustained in Taji, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV during combat operations.