SAN DIEGO -- John and Stacey Holley want the military to stop flying dead servicemen as freight on commercial airliners without proper honors.

Their quest to change this policy has taken them on a world stage. Now, they're home talking about the progress that's been made.

Their son, Matthew John Holley, died about six weeks ago while fighting in Iraq.

In the days after his death, his parents realized the military was, as they called it, "disrespecting" fallen military men by sending them home as freight -- no flags on coffins or honor guards.

Since then, the Holleys embarked on a mission.

The couple gets teary-eyed when they see photographs of their son that were taken just a few days before he died in Iraq.

They've accepted his death, but not what's happening to others after they die.

"In May, the parents of an Army Private First Class were stunned when their son's casket was delivered to them on a forklift in a cargo area of a St. Louis airport where employees smoked nearby," said John Holley.

The Holleys keep finding stories about what's taking place at airports all over the country -- where coffins of dead servicemen are unloaded by baggage handlers with no military honors in sight.

"We don't want this to be a political message. It has nothing to do with politics; it has everything to do with respect of our fallen soldiers," said Stacey Holley.

The Holleys said fallen heroes deserve better.

Their son did get the honors to which he was entitled, but only after the Holleys pushed for it, 10News reported.

The Holleys have been speaking about this on televisioin, radio and newspapers, and they are starting to get results.

U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer and U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter have sent letters pledging their support.

Hunter, who runs the House Armed Services Committee, said he expects to see results in the near future.

"We're addressing that. We're going to make sure it doesn't happen again," said Hunter.

Hunter said Congress just approved next year's defense bill, which includes a change in the policy, meaning dead service members would be transported on military planes to an air base closest to their home. Honor guards would also fly along for the ceremony.

If the president signs the bill, it looks as if the Holleys will get what they've been fighting for.