A Message from Soldiers' Angels RE: Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations Center at Dover AFB

Hello Angels and friends,

I would like to take this time to wish you a happy holiday season. It has been a great year for the Soldiers' Angels and we couldn't have done it without supporters and volunteers such as yourself.

While everyone plays an very important role in the Global War on Terror, a group of very dedicated service members appear to fly under the radar day in and day out, that team is located at the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations Center. It is the center's mission and privilege to fulfill the nation's sacred commitment of ensuring dignity, honor, and respect to the fallen and care, service, and support to their families. A solemn dignified transfer of remains is conducted upon arrival at Dover Air Force Base, Del., from the aircraft to a transfer vehicle to honor those who have given their lives in the service of the country. The vehicle then moves the fallen to the Port Mortuary.

AFMAO has a total force staff consisting of active duty Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines as well as Guardsmen, Reservists and civilians. The staff also consists of representatives from federal agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Armed Forces Medical Examiner who are responsible for the complete processing of remains. The staff utilizes state-of-the-art equipment to establish positive identification through DNA, dental and fingerprint analysis and autopsy the remains to determine cause of death. The staff also prepares fallen members for transport to their final destination as determined by the family.

Soldiers' Angels has taken these service members under our wings and encourage you to send notes of support throughout the year to:

Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations Center
Mr. Todd Rose-Chief of Air Force Mortuary Affairs
116 Purple Heart Drive
Dover AFB, DE 19902

We recently received a note of appreciation back from the team:

The Public Affairs Office at the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations Center at Dover AFB, Del. has been receiving your cards and well wishes over the last several days. We post these notes where all in the center can see them and read your kind words of thanks. Many of staff here at AFMAO are Guard, Reserve and Active Duty military members deployed from across our nation to support this vital mission. They are away from their families during this time and your notes are certainly helping to bring holiday cheer. Thank you for your support!

- Lt. Shannon Mann

Please live every day like it is a holiday, being thankful and spending time with your family and friends; appreciating what you have been given with the gift of freedom that our service members provide to us every day.

I wish you health, comfort, and prosperity this holiday season. Season's Greetings.


Shelle Michaels
Soldiers' Angels National Communication Officer
ShelleMichaels@SoldiersAngels.org
www.Twitter.com/SoldiersAngels