Psst I said in the first one, the pics would follow. lol :)
Greg Hopper "Why is it that our children can't read a Bible in school, but they can in prison?" ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tim Harder" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "The Sandbox Discussion List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, November 21, 2003 7:25 PM Subject: Re: [Sndbox] SOLDIER'S FUNERAL, TEXAS STYLE > > Sorry.... MY bad...... <G> > > > > On Friday, November 21, 2003, at 07:19 PM, Tim Harder wrote: > > >> > > That teared me up... Where are the pictures? > > > > > > > > > > > >> SOLDIER'S FUNERAL, TEXAS STYLE > >> > >> > >> What follows is a message from Vicki Pierce 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. > >> 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 4H 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." > >> > >> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Sndbox mailing list > >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >> http://sandboxmail.net/mailman/listinfo/sndbox_sandboxmail.net > > _______________________________________________ > > Sndbox mailing list > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > http://sandboxmail.net/mailman/listinfo/sndbox_sandboxmail.net > > > _______________________________________________ > Sndbox mailing list > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://sandboxmail.net/mailman/listinfo/sndbox_sandboxmail.net > > _______________________________________________ Sndbox mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://sandboxmail.net/mailman/listinfo/sndbox_sandboxmail.net
