Replies

After a two hour drive, I just got back home from the service. I will post details tomorrow in conjunction with the coming newspaper article. However I will say that the 1 1/2 hour service was not quite what I expected -- it was much more personal and by the end I felt like one of the family and very calm. This is a faith-based family and their faith in the Lord and Jesus Christ is not only sustaining them but uplifting them as they know that both boys are reunited in heaven in the presence of God. This Hispanic Christian congregation is unabashedly pro-America, very patriotic, believes in what our President is doing and supportive of the mission. The father, Roy Velez, spoke for about 15 minutes near the end of the service, talking about his sons, how he will miss them but knowing he will see them again. The power of prayer, collectively and individually, is sustaining them. Roy is a powerful, motivational speaker, reading from Douglas MacArthur.

Toward the end of the service, he asked military and veterans to stand and be recognized. As such we stood and received applause. He then asked us to come forward and stand in front of the coffin. The Sergeant in charge of the military detail directed us all to attention and then ordered hand salute facing the family. I was directly in front of the young wife. As Taps played she broke down, weeping inconsolably until the end. We were dismissed and returned to congregation. Prayer was a big part of the service and the family stood and received the prayers of us all. Finally, upon exiting we were meet with a 200 ft. long, quiet line of citizens and bikers holding American flags.

A very moving service to be long remembered by me and others who attended.

Oh, thank you so much for telling us about your experience there. It sounds so moving. I'm weeping. This is an incredible family. Looking forward to the article and hearing more.

Bless you and all who stood for us, here at home and on foreign soil.

Thank you for info. When it comes to being far from Lubbock: I've never felt so far away physically and yet so close in spirit.