Somber Footage Of Fallen Marine’s Homecoming Is A Reminder To Honor Those Who Paid The Ultimate Sacrifice This Memorial Day

Footage of a fallen Marine’s homecoming earlier this year is being shared on social media on Memorial Day weekend, and it is reminding everyone of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

A video, originally posted on Instagram by _networks_az, shows the day 23-year-old Marine Sgt. Alec Langen returned to his home state of Arizona. Sgt. Langen lost his life when his helicopter crashed during a mission in California in February. Lance Cpl. Donovan Davis, Capt. Benjamin Moulton, Capt. Jack Casey and Capt. Miguel Nava also died in the accident.

Sgt. Langen’s parents, Steven and Caryn Langen, had been longtime employees of Southwest Airlines, so the company made special arrangements to fly their son home and give him a heartfelt tribute and funeral inside Southwest’s hangar in Phoenix.

The young Sgt. flew home inside a special jet pained in an American flag. As the plane arrived, staff members, friends, family, and onlookers stood in attention and watched as his family and fellow Marines met his casket on the tarmac. His funeral included TAPS played by a single bagpiper and a special Marine flyby.

“Being a Marine to Alec was everything,” his mother told ABC 15. “Steve pinned his wings on him when he finished training. He idolized his father.”

Sgt. Langen was also a proud husband to Casey Langen. The couple said “I do” only weeks before his death.

“Saying prayers for the fallen Marine and his family,” someone wrote under the footage shared a day ahead of Memorial Day. “I am grateful for his sacrifice and to all the men and women in uniform.”

“Wow! Gut-wrenching,” wrote a heartbroken follower.

“This is what Memorial Day is about! Nothing else!” another commented.

You can find the source of this story’s featured image here.