Final Salute, Maj. Steve Beck casualty assistance officer

The story behind these pictures.
http://denver.rockymountainnews.com/news/finalSalute/flash/

For a year, the Rocky Mountain News has followed Maj. Steve Beck as he takes on the most difficult duty of his career: casualty notification. As Beck and his comrades at Buckley Air Force Base keep constant watch over the caskets of the men they never knew, the Marines also comfort the families of the fallen, and choke back tears of their own.

It's all part of a tradition that started in 1775: Never leave a Marine behind.
After the knock on the door, the story has only begun.
See additional photos of Maj. Steve Beck and the families of the fallen soldiers.
View slide show
Hear the voice of a Marine casualty assistance calls officer - along with behind-the-scenes photos - as he undertakes the most difficult mission of his life.
VIEW THE SLIDE SHOW
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/special-reports/final-salute/