Barry Delaney weeps for Private Elliott. The men made a pact to wear a dress at the funeral of whoever died first
Posted on 09/16/2009 10:10:22 PM PDT by Steelfish
September 16, 2009 Funeral Dress: Best Friend Keeps Promise To Private Kevin Elliott
Lindsay McIntosh
Barry Delaney weeps for Private Elliott. The men made a pact to wear a dress at the funeral of whoever died first
It was a promise neither man would have wanted to keep. Yesterday the funeral of a Black Watch soldier killed in Afghanistan took a bizarre turn when his best friend arrived in a bright green dress and pink leg warmers to honour a pact that the two of them had made. [Pic in URL]
Private Kevin Elliott and his friend, Barry Delaney, had agreed that whoever survived the other should wear a dress to the dead man’s funeral. Mr Delaney duly fulfilled the pledge as a tribute to Private Elliott, who was killed aged 24 while on foot patrol in the southern province of Helmand on August 31.
Mr Delaney wept on his knees at the graveside in Dundee as shots were fired during the military funeral. His dress plans are believed to have been known about in advance by other mourners.
Private Elliott’s other friends wore Black Watch tartan ribbon pins with the words “Kevin Elliott Our Hero”. His young cousins wore T-shirts emblazoned with his photograph. His army colleagues wore their regimental uniforms and carried his coffin, which was draped in a saltire.
Earlier, hundreds of mourners had lined the route outside St Mary’s church in the city centre, clapping as the funeral cortège left for the cemetery.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
Don’t forget the Hero. Never forgive the enemy.
Barry Delaney weeps for Private Elliott. The men made a pact to wear a dress at the funeral of whoever died first
LOL! I guess it was as good an incentive as any to keep the other as safe as possible. God Bless em, both.
Bless both of them
Sorry - I see nothing lol about this.
Poor man’s heart has been riped out - NOTHING funny at all.
I can’t see anything but a blurry screen!
Okay - now you have raised my ire - this man values his friend and his WORD.
I am disappointed in the remarks I am reading in this forum. I guess I expected a little better from my fellow freepers.
a blurry screen means that the person is having a tough time reading through their tears.
Sorry - I just can’t believe someone would lol about this.
Didn’t mean to take it out on you.
I admire a man who keeps his word, even when it’s something far out like this.
This is also why I am very careful about the promises I make.
RIP Private Elliott. Bravo Mr. Delaney.
Prayers up for comfort and healing for Barry Delaney and Provate Elliott's loved ones.
I had a friend... never mind!
We all have people in our lives whom we call friends, yet I doubt I have a friend who would do this for me.
If a picture speaks a thousand words, then this one is worthy of trillions.
Well done Barry lad, RIP Private Elliott. You both have my deepest admiration.
From The Daily Record UK:
Kevin, who previously served in Iraq and Northern Ireland, had been about to leave the Army earlier this year but was tempted back to serve in Afghanistan at the last minute.
In March, he had returned his kit and was about to walk out of the Fort George barracks in Inverness when he decided to turn back.
When asked why, he replied: “I didn’t want to miss the boys.”
Kevin was killed along with Sergeant Stuart Millar, 40, on August 31.
The pair were killed by a rocket-propelled grenade while defending their colleagues when they came under attack from insurgents in the volatile area of Helmand province where they were patrolling.
As a boy, Kevin attended Braeview Academy in Dundee where he was a keen boxer and footballer.
He joined the Army in 2002 and after training went on to serve with the Fire Support Company.
The service was told how he loved a good party and was once caught with a fridge full of beer at a room inspection. Instead of discarding it, he drank it all in front of his platoon sergeant.
Fellow Private Peter Fenton described him as “hilarious, confident, loyal and above all charming”.
He added: “His loss will leave a big hole in the platoon.”
The funeral of Sergeant Millar, who was known as Gus, will take place in Inverness tomorrow.
From STV:
Mr Delaney, 25, wore a bright green dress and neon pink socks to attend his friend’s burial in Dundee on Tuesday. He had worn a sombre suit to the funeral service - but changed into the dress in the car park of Dundee’s Barnhill Cemetery.
He said Pte Elliott would have wanted him to keep the promise they made years ago about how to dress for the other’s funeral.
He said: “Kev was like my brother - we would have done anything for each other.
“We said that whoever died first, the other one had to wear a pink dress with green spots to the funeral - and we shook on it. It was mainly his idea and the more I think about it, I’m sure Kevin knew something was going to happen.
“I looked for the exaxct dress but couldn’t find one anywhere.
“I eventually picked up the green one in Primark and bought the pink pop socks to make it look even sillier. It’s what Kev would have wanted.”
Barry added: “Kev told his whole family about the pact, so I couldn’t back out. I had a word with him at the graveside and asked if he liked the colour - I’m sure I could hear laughter coming out of the ground.
“Kev was a true hero and someone I’m proud to call my best mate.”
It is and has always been a hell hole.
These men made a pact with EACH OTHER. The one who survived is keeping that pact, and even though it was a humorous way to honor the dead friend, and might have looked odd to other funeral goers, he was willing to do it.
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