[Graybeard58]

I'm baaaack and tired from the trip. I arrived at my destination about 2:00pm yesterday and since I had to check in at a motel and change clothes before going to visitation, I decided to wait until the 6:00pm visitation.

Since I had a little time, I looked up the location of the funeral home and the church where services were to be held. No problem finding the funeral home but the church was not where it was supposed to be according to the map provided to me. I found it anyway though. It's hard to stump a former cub scout on things like that.

I attended the 6:00pm visitation and even remembered that I was in another time zone there. I met and talked with Mrs. N., I introduced myself and told her where I was from and then told her where I was from in computerland. Her face brightened when I said the words "Hobbit Hole" and so did the face of her mother standing next to her, it seems that PFC N. had also told his mother-in-law about the Hobbit Hole. I also mentioned knowng "300winmag" and she knew him too. (A little name dropping never hurts)

A young sgt. standing beside her said that he thought everybody in the army knew about the Hobbit Hole and the knives. I asked him if he had one but he said that he hadn't been to Iraq yet.

There was a one star General there that I talked with later and he too had heard of the Hobbit Hole and the knives, I asked him if he had one and he just said that he didn't. I cannot remember his name or maybe he could get one too.

I also asked him if it was customary for a General officer to attend these funerals and he said the army sends the highest ranking officer available and often it is a General and that he considered it an honor to attend them and further said that "the highest ranking military man here (at the funeral) was the young soldier lying in the coffin" He was an all around nice fellow and I wish I could remember his name.

The visitation I attended was the last of four visitations and it was packed. It was a closed coffin affair but there were tables containing albums of pictures of PFC N. and Mrs. N. I didn't want to take up very much of her time but I asked Mrs.N. to come over to that table with me and I pointed out a picture of her and PFC N. together and asked if I could borrow it to post at the Hobbit Hole. She was very pleased that I wanted to do that but asked if I was sure that I wanted that particular one, I asked her to pick out one that she liked instead and she chose the one I am posting here. (Probably thought the one I chose made her look fat - woman)

As you can see she is a very attractive young woman and they are just a beautiful couple. I have her mailing address and will send the original back to her right away.

I told you the 4th visitation was packed, well that was a hint at things to come, I think everyone in the county turned out for the funeral. I didn't get another chance to talk with Mrs.N., she was totally surrounded by family and friends at all times.

Like the General, I was honored to be able to attend and if ever another such occasion arises (let's hope not) I will be honored to attend that one too as long as it's within my reach.This one was about 380 miles but what else does an old retiree like me have better to do than to say good by to an American hero?

Rose in RoseBear;300winmag;HairOfTheDog, you know everybody here, maybe one of you could ping those interested to this post?

[Sam Cree]

Amazing and moving. Thanks for the report.

[Ramius]

Oh, wow. Nice write-up.

[snif]

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

Great report and great picture! Thanks for attending!

[osagebowman]

Evening Greybeard - very nice of you to go to the visitation and represent all of us. Thank you. OB & LSA

[Rose in RoseBear]

Pinging you to Graybeard58's funeral report.

Thank you so much, Graybeard58, for attending the funeral and representing the Hobbit Hole.

[RosieCotton]

Thank you for attending, Graybeard - and for the report!

[Rose in RoseBear]

Pinging you to Graybeard58's funeral report.

[Corin Stormhands]

Oh God Bless you Graybeard for going. And thanks for sharing.

[HairOfTheDog]

Graybeard, thank you so much for going on our behalf. We are so grateful. My heart breaks for Mrs. N and their families. This is a sad story that has been played out many times before, but this one was one of ours, and we feel it in a way they all deserve to be felt. Thank you for representing us there, and letting her know we care.

[Professional Engineer]

Her face brightened when I said the words "Hobbit Hole" and so did the face of her mother standing next to her

I'm from the Hobbit Hole and I'm here to help(to paraphrase and greatly misquote RR).

Well done sir.

[Professional Engineer]

ping to 2733

[SuziQ]

he considered it an honor to attend them and further said that "the highest ranking military man here (at the funeral) was the young soldier lying in the coffin"

What a wonderful thing for the General to say. I'm sure having him there made PFC N's wife feel really special.

The PFC was a handsome man, and she's a lovely lady. I'm so sorry that she had to lose him so young. My heart just breaks for her.

Thank you again for attending, and letting her know that we're thinking of her and keeping her in our prayers.

[300winmag]

Thank you for representing the Hobbit Hole.

I emailed Mrs. N., and asked her if she had the names of honor guard and other military representatives at the funeral. If I can get some contact information, they will all get some small token of our large appreciation from the Hobbit Hole.

[Darksheare]

Thanks for the news/update.
My condolences to his family, wish there was more I could say that was fitting but there's just nothing to say that is useful coming from me.