Sunday, June 20, 2010

A Tribute To A Fallen Soldier



My friend Kathy sent me the following email and I felt impressed to share it with you.  It is not a funny feel good email - but when I saw the photos I knew you would be as moved as I was.  
Funeral in Tennessee

   In Tennessee we really do pull off the road and stop for 


 funerals... nobody moves until the last car has gone by. 


What follows is a message from Vicki Pierce about her 


 nephew James' funeral, who was killed 
while serving his country in Iraq!

"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 Tennessee police 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. 


 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 4 H 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 girlsand 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 military presence, at least two generals, a fist full of colonels, and representatives from every branch of the service, plus the color guard who attended James, and some who served with him, it 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. 





These photos are awesome !! 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 



 

 



 




 

 



 

 



 




 

Being a military mother I was very touched by this email that I received from my friend Kathy Munoz this morning.  Having never seen this email before, I thought that I would share it with you my blogland friends.  I wished we showed our love and support in California in the same way that they do in Tennessee.  We can not forget our fallen warriors.  

5 comments:

Kris said...

There were two Australians killed overseas recently and it is a very sobering thing. We haven't had many Aussies killed, in fact it was our worst day since the Vietnam war apparently. Their funerals have been conducted over the past week and covered by news channels and newspapers and we have got to see the heartbreak of those left behind. No matter where you stand on war politically, you have to honour those who give up their lives for their country. Such a sacrifice - for them and also their families. It is a huge thing because it doesn't just affect one person. Rest in peace.

Kelly Ann said...

That form of respect should be showed to every service person killed in the line of duty, including police & fire...to the military they are the defenders of our freedom, the police and fire the defenders of our safety...from a military brat each obituary I read on a service person killed breaks my heart...

Tianna said...

The story was very touching and I'm sure that the pictures are even more so, but they wouldn't show up on my computer. I will have to try again later.

PunkiePie (Jen) said...

Thank you for sharing, Gran.

txag80 said...

I just recently saw the movie TAKING CHANCE and it, too provided a glimpse of the honor and pride we have for our young warriors.