The internment was the hardest. Because Joe was in the Air Force, he was buried with all the appropriate military honors. The young woman in uniform who presented hubby's mom with the flag had tears streaming down her face as she thanked her for Joe's service to the military & to his country. There was a 21-gun salute & the playing of taps.............then they presented Josephine with a medal honoring Joe's service, and a bullet in memory of fallen comrades.
At the funeral home last night, a gentleman whose son was killed in Iraq and who is a veteran himself stood honor guard at the door, in full dress uniform. Toward the end of the evening he very discreetly walked into the room & up to the casket and saluted my father-in-law. As he walked out he went up to my mother-in-law, took both her hands in his, and said "God bless you, Ma'am."
Simple gestures, but they meant so much.
Hugs to you and your family Mozie. It has been a hard day for all of you. Prayers for easing of the pain. Love, B
What a wonderful tribute. Those memories will help in the days to come.
Beautiful stories of heros honoring fellow heros Mozie. Prayers for all your family.
Neets, I'd love to go to the inaugural ball. Trying to see if circumstances will allow.
Going to call it a night folks.
Prairie
Hey Mozie...just wanted to let you know I have been thinking about you and your family all day. I hope you are all doing as well as can be expected.
It wasn't all that long ago that I lost my father, and I tear up everytime I think of how much it hurts those who lose someone they love so much. November has become an extremely hard month for us, since we lost most of our hope just about this time 2 years ago. I don't know that I'll ever stop missing him - well, duh, of course I won't! A lot of people says that time heals all wounds and maybe that's true, because some of them have, but the pain is still there as sharp as ever at times. I wish so much that my Dad could see my boys play football or hear them tell jokes. In my heart I know he's looking after all of us, and that he can see them, I just want to see him see them, ya know?
A wonderful man that I met in church died earlier this year. We had become very close and he kinda filled in as a surrogate father. He died of a massive stroke 2 hours after my last visit to see him. He was in WW2 and had the same kind of internment that your father-in-law had...and I bawled like a baby through the whole thing.
I remember when my Dad died, the Knights of Columbus guarded his casket at the funeral home and then marched it down the aisle of the church, and I honestly thought I was going to lose my mind from the grief I felt. I was so proud but oh, so sad at the same time. Mark said, "Mom, is Pop a king or something?" That was my Dad telling me it would be okay. :-) I even managed to give the eulogy without shaking or shedding a single tear. I asked my Dad and God for strength and they gave it to me. I still do the same thing today when I'm in difficult circumstances. They always come through.
I just wanted to let you know that I am so sorry for your family's loss. I know how much it hurts and how hard it is to go through the formalities when all you really want to do is just crawl in a hole and hide. Going through that experience made me a stronger person but if I had a chance I would change it and be a little less strong.
Grief has many stages; I'd thought I gone through them all, but I'm still going through them. Just typing this is making me cry. Not for me, but for you and your family.
I just want to let you know that I'll always be here for you need me and praying for you and yours.
(((Hugs)))
Colleen