After the new pin (complete with hand-engraving on the back, naming the holder as 2nd Lt. E.M. Brockmeier) was safely residing in the 'States, a surprise presentation party was planned. In early April of 2001, Brock and his wife Betty (along with their daughter Carol) were to be in New Braunfels, Texas visiting their son Bill, and attending a post-poned wedding reception for Bill's daughter Jenni. An impromptu gift-presentation was setup for Brock on April 6, under the guise of a late birthday present (true, actually...).

The pin was presented, with Brock having to fight his way through about six layers of nested boxes-within-boxes (his daughter-in-law Dawn's contribution) to find the tiny treasure inside. After Brock expressed his obvious surprise and touched emotions, his son Bill read a "moving speech" and then the small group "saluted" Brock in his honor. (the speech appears below...)

I can only imagine what it must have been like: falling out of the sky--trapped in a shot-up old hulk of metal--with the ground as its final destination. I can only guess at the fear that would probably have gripped me, had I been in the same situation-- especially when it seemed there was no way out of it. You tried mightily to escape from your plane, but it seemed impossible, and at one point you gave up trying. But you finally tried one more time, and somehow you made it out.

And then there was a leap into the darkness of the unknown--you were over enemy territory--would you ever make it back home alive? Would you make it to the ground alive? Would your 'chute even open? But you pulled the cord and it did open--and you reached the ground OK.

You don't look at yourself as a hero, but I think a hero is simply someone who does what has to be done in the midst of difficult circumstances. And over the next many months of difficult circumstances, your determination, your resourcefulness, your creativity, and even your wonderful sense of humor got you through those trials. And even though you didn't directly refer to it in your "story," I know for a fact that the most important thing that got you through those times--and back home safe again--was love: the love of your family back home, who were surely praying for your safety. And certainly, God's love for you was critical in getting you through those times. And on your end of things, your love--for your country, and most of all, for your family so far away--got you through some tough stuff.

As the apostle Paul said in a letter he wrote a long time ago--"The only thing that counts is faith, expressing itself through love."

So, 2nd Lt. E.M. Brockmeier, we salute you!