Posted on 08/14/2009 10:18:51 AM PDT by JoanVarga
Being a member of the largest graduating class in the history of the State of Florida means that Scott Speicher's remains were received by large number of my former classmates today.
His memorial procession traced through my childhood streets and high school, past the familiar bastions of Naval Bases--familiar but never taken for granted-- and to a final home of rest in his native country.
Although I may have had a passing acquaintance with Scott within the walls and classes of my school, I cannot claim a long-past connection with him in the close confines of a small west-side community school. My connection with him is more far-flung; by an extra 2,000 miles removed from Desert Storm. From Mexico City, Mexico.
I lay awake in the wee hours of the morning, listening the the English language ABC radio affiliate giving news of our effort to rescue Kuwait from Saddam Hussein's rapacious appetite for expansion. It was very tense, being in a foreign country amidst many neighbors who were not happy with the U.S. "imperialism" never mind the Kuwaiti people's real fear for their lives. The radio reporter droned the heightened military activity and the strain of not having a body count to gleefully report was certainly giving the newscasters no blood-money to send their market share numbers up. But you knew the inevitable number ONE would be reported breathlessly at some point and it made one tired.
I snapped alert and awake at the mention of "first casualty" and his hometown. My hometown. So far away and now so real in my imagination; I missed home, my school, my friends and vicariously felt the pang of loss reverberate amongst my classmates, their faces long faded in my memory now parading in front of my thoughts. It was sobering and sorrowful all at once. And has been for all these long years since.
I considered going to meet Scott Speicher's procession, and show my respects for him and take the time to realize that the community that I felt so far away from on that day, was there then. They'll be there today and tomorrow, too. The solidarity of support and profound respect is just a part of this city. And likely in your city, too. And in a thousand other cities around the country the same connectivity, awe, and gratitude keeps us together.
There will be no need for formal organizations or clubs or government subsidies to compel us to hold the line of honor for our sacred dead. We are bound to bow the head, doff the cap, hold our hands to our hearts in humble gratitude for such an unfathomable and selfless act of freedom.
Welcome home, Captain Scott Speicher, to the real meaning of home and freedom and unity. It can't be created or bought or organized into being. It resides in a place so deep and primal, so tangible to the Spirit, that it is hidden in plain sight, safe from the petty politicians and ivory-towered ideologues.
Safe in our hearts, the memory of our fallen.
-Joan
Does anyone know how he died?
Did he die from the crash, from injuries or from dehydration?
I know the area pretty well and if he survived the crash with out any injuries he still would have or could have died from dehydration.
He died more mercifully than he ever would have if Saddam had gotten a hold of him.
Oh, and if he survived the crash/ejection he had a number of ways to summon help.
Pilots have lots of signaling options, radio beacons, signals to lay out on the ground, even smoke and mirrors.
He didn’t signal. However he went, it was quick.
Thanks for posting the pics!
You are welcome.
More pics at WOKV.com
THanks. Do you have any photos that aren’t blurry?
Did you mean that comment to sound like snark? Did I misread you? Please tell me that you have no intention of making this thread about you.
Welcome home, Captain. Glad to see the Orlando TV stations gave this decent coverage in their midday news. God Bless the people who turned out to line the route.
I think null and void means he got all teared up, and the pictures now look blurry.
I teared up. Commenting on blurry photos is a fairly common FReeperism for indicating an emotional response to images.
No snark, disrespect or lime-lighting intended.
D’oh! I’d forgotten that. Sorry to misunderstand. I’ve just worked eight days straight and am likely in an unduly cranky state.
:o)
No problem. I’d druther you say than seethe!
Thanks, I saw a few, but it is choking me up too much.
There are still people who believe in what US was once.
Thanks, I saw a few, but it is choking me up too much.
There are still people who believe in what US was once.
There are still people who believe in what US was once, and can be again.
Yes, Mel. And they don’t need anyone to organize them. It comes from the heart and the heartland.
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