The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. I did about five burials, while in the Army, as VietNam was in progress.While one of them was going on, in St. Louis, Mo., the relatives were actually laughing out loud and joking. Seems the deceased met his end in a cathouse. Years later in Hawaii, coming back from the boat trip out to the Arizona Memorial, a group of young Japanese were laughing and joking rather loudly. I raised my head up and looked at them, and they froze. I didn't give them a mean or angry look, I just looked at them. That thing from "Gladiator" came to mind. Death smiles at every man, all a man can do is smile back. I've had to bury one of my own children, and it's the only time I ever cried after a funeral. I am mystified as to why G*d would fashion us this way. I'm kind of used up myself, but I keep going. Another mystery as well, that time will solve.
I'm sitting in my office, fortunately alone, with tears streaming down my face. Semper Fidelis. How can we pass this relevance to a generation that cares more about what unreality show is most hip? The lions are fewer and farther between, the wolves are in charge, and the sheepdogs are quitting or turning wolf. I keep reminding myself Proverbs 3:5-6. I will do whatever He wants me to, but, I don't see much hope for the majority of this generation.
WOW. Should be required reading for all Americans, but most especially those politicians whom daily by their actions betray our great country, thereby despoiling the sacrifice and the memory of of those who fall in it's service.
I've read stories with similar endings from burn unit nurses. At some point the human spirit just cannot absorb any more. The lucky ones realize when to get out. The unlucky ones implode on the job.
The Fates smiled on me, and I only drew Funeral Detail once in my whole career. I was in Alaska during the Summer of 1994, and there were only two funerals of local retired veterans while I was on call. Still it was the hardest thing I ever had to do, looking into a widow's eyes and saying the words that I knew were not true.
There are no words that do not ring hollow in that moment. God bless the men and women stuck with the duty during wartime. That article is heartbreaking.
I was Funeral Detail out of Ft Belvoir in '70/71. Did more funerals than I care to remember; some old, most young. I twitched at every gun salute and cried at every playing of Taps. I remember one funeral in particular; a very young man, killed in action saving his brothers in arms. His young wife was inconsolable...the kids to young to know what was happening. It has stayed with me and will till I pass. Where do we find such men? III/0317
If war is too important to be left to the generals, the lives of the grunts are too precious to be left to the emeffing politicians who spend them for votes.
8 comments:
The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. I did about five burials, while in the Army, as VietNam was in progress.While one of them was going on, in St. Louis, Mo., the relatives were actually laughing out loud and joking. Seems the deceased met his end in a cathouse. Years later in Hawaii, coming back from the boat trip out to the Arizona Memorial, a group of young Japanese were laughing and joking rather loudly. I raised my head up and looked at them, and they froze. I didn't give them a mean or angry look, I just looked at them. That thing from "Gladiator" came to mind. Death smiles at every man, all a man can do is smile back. I've had to bury one of my own children, and it's the only time I ever cried after a funeral. I am mystified as to why G*d would fashion us this way. I'm kind of used up myself, but I keep going. Another mystery as well, that time will solve.
I'm sitting in my office, fortunately alone, with tears streaming down my face. Semper Fidelis. How can we pass this relevance to a generation that cares more about what unreality show is most hip? The lions are fewer and farther between, the wolves are in charge, and the sheepdogs are quitting or turning wolf. I keep reminding myself Proverbs 3:5-6. I will do whatever He wants me to, but, I don't see much hope for the majority of this generation.
WOW. Should be required reading for all Americans, but most especially those politicians whom daily by their actions betray our great country, thereby despoiling the sacrifice and the memory of of those who fall in it's service.
I've read stories with similar endings from burn unit nurses. At some point the human spirit just cannot absorb any more. The lucky ones realize when to get out. The unlucky ones implode on the job.
Old Corps.
The Fates smiled on me, and I only drew Funeral Detail once in my whole career. I was in Alaska during the Summer of 1994, and there were only two funerals of local retired veterans while I was on call. Still it was the hardest thing I ever had to do, looking into a widow's eyes and saying the words that I knew were not true.
There are no words that do not ring hollow in that moment. God bless the men and women stuck with the duty during wartime. That article is heartbreaking.
I was Funeral Detail out of Ft Belvoir in '70/71. Did more funerals than I care to remember; some old, most young.
I twitched at every gun salute and cried at every playing of Taps.
I remember one funeral in particular; a very young man, killed in action saving his brothers in arms.
His young wife was inconsolable...the kids to young to know what was happening.
It has stayed with me and will till I pass.
Where do we find such men?
III/0317
If war is too important to be left to the generals, the lives of the grunts are too precious to be left to the emeffing politicians who spend them for votes.
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