Posted on 07/12/2003 1:34:25 PM PDT by anymouse
Glad to live in a state where our soldiers and sailors are respected...
What follows is a message from Vicki Pierce (a member of my church here in Highlands Ranch) about her nephew James' funeral (he was serving our country in Iraq):
I'm back, it was certainly a quick trip, but I have to also say it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. There is a lot to be said for growing up in a small town in Texas.
The service itself was impressive with wonderful flowers and sprays, a portrait of James, his uniform and boots, his awards and ribbons, his boots. There was lots of military brass and an eloquent (though inappropriately longwinded) Baptist preacher. There were easily 1000 people at the service, filling the church sanctuary as well as the fellowship hall and spilling out into the parking lot.
However, the most incredible thing was what happened following the service on the way to the cemetery. We went to our cars and drove to the cemetery escorted by at least 10 police cars with lights flashing and some other emergency vehicles, with Texas Rangers handling traffic. Everyone on the road who was not in the procession, pulled over, got out of their cars, and stood silently and respectfully, some put their hands over their hearts, some had small flags. Shop keepers came outside with their customers and did the same thing.
Construction workers stopped their work, got off their equipment and put their hands over their hearts, too. There was no noise whatsoever except a few birds and the quiet hum of cars going slowly up the road.
When we turned off the highway suddenly there were teenage boys along both sides of the street about every 20 feet or so, all holding large
American flags on long flag poles, and again with their hands on their hearts. We thought at first it was the Boy Scouts or 4F club or something, but it continued .... for two and a half miles. Hundreds of young people, standing silently on the side of the road with flags. At one point we passed an elementary school, and all the children were outside, shoulder to shoulder holding flags ... kindergartners, handicapped, teachers, staff, everyone. Some held signs of love and support. Then came teenage girls and younger boys, all holding flags. Then adults. Then families. All standing silently on the side of the road. No one spoke, not even the very young children. The last few turns found people crowded together holding flags or with their hands on their hearts. Some were on horseback.
The military presence...at least two generals, a fist full of colonels, and representatives from every branch of the service, plus the color guard which attended James, and some who served with him ... was very impressive and respectful, but the love and pride from this community who had lost one of their own was the most amazing thing I've ever been privileged to witness.
I've attached some pictures, some are blurry (we were moving), but you can get a small idea of what this was like. Thanks so much for all the prayers and support.
I pray the day comes when American's support each other in Life as much as they do in death.
Maybe then , We will find Peace...............
I haven't seen the name of the town or the full name of the Troop who gave the ultimate sacrifice in this thread....maybe I missed it.
Stay Safe and make sure this gets posted at the Fort please. I have sent it to my wing nut connections in Pararescue and EOD..........
Whoa.
This is from back in April, the funeral of U.S. Army Spc. James Kiehl, of the 507th Maintenance Company. The funeral was in Comfort, Texas, a really tiny town along I-10 west of San Antonio (and east of Kerrville, for those who know the area), with burial in nearby Center Point, in a cemetary that is home to a number of famed Texas Rangers.
I don't specifically recognize anything else in the pictures from the funeral procession, but as far as I know, there ain't but one "Karr Docc," and it's in Comfort...
The community did much more -- there were local events in Kerrville and elsewhere that raised thousands of dollars toward the care and education of his unborn child and the wife he left behind.
Keep in mind Hank Hill was born in NYC!
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