LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
Fifteen security forces Airmen were on a bus en route from Frankfurt International Airport in Frankfurt, Germany, to Afghanistan March 2, when an outbreak of gunfire erupted.
An armed assailant opened fire on the vehicle, killing two Airmen and wounding two more before being apprehended. Among the dead was Senior Airman Nicholas J. Alden, assigned to the 48th Security Forces Squadron at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England.
"Our security forces brothers and sisters at Lakenheath lost a fellow warrior as he was traveling in support of Operation Enduring Freedom," said Lt. Col. Scott M. Foley, 633d Security Forces Squadron commander. "At the request of U.S. Air Forces in Europe security forces and in line with Air Combat Command, we have asked defenders of the 633d Security Forces Squadron to remember our lost brother by donning the black band over our shield."
Airman 1st Class Christopher Blanton, 633 SFS, recently had a permanent change of station from Lakenheath and was horrified of the news.
"I saw the news and was completely shocked," he said. "It was hard to process because it hit so close to home. This could have happened to any of us."
The black band is a symbol that can be worn anytime from the day the policeman or security forces Airman dies, until midnight the day of his or her funeral. This symbolic salute is similar to flying the flag at half-staff when a dignitary passes away.
"It's a constant reminder how dangerous our job is and how serious we need to take our readiness and training," said Senior Master Sgt. Bruce Campbell, 633 SFS.
The display is a time-honored tradition within the law enforcement community, in which both civilian and military police personnel perform this gesture during their time of mourning of a fellow fallen officer.