The Great White Hearse

thcri · Nov 15, 2004

Driving to a neighboring town today I drove past a funeral home. This particular funeral home is the one we used to bury my mother 4 years ago. Out front was a large white hearse. This was different as the hearse picked up mother from the back. There is no doors in the front of this funeral home. The hearse was guarded by 4 men in blue suits, one on each corner. Off to the side was approximately 5 more men with their rifles. (ready to do a salute I would imagine) Now I never did serve in the armed forces so I don't know the colors or anything like that, but I did assume this person being buried today did serve. I did get choked up as I drove by, but it wasn't because of it reminding me of my mother, but I could only mostly think of the life I have today because of that man being buried today. I don't know what branch he served in or even what war, it didn't make no difference, my life is far better than most countries because of the men and women that served this country. I sometimes now wished that I would have served and helped do my share, but I can't change that. This was not a police officer or there would have been police cars around, only military vehicles.

I know Veteran's Day was just last thursday. I work with a few Veterans. So from now on, I will thank a Veteran when I see one. So for all of you Veterans here on TBN, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. And yes there is tears in my eyes as I write this.

murph

btolle · Nov 15, 2004

Thanks for your post. I was in the Army for 3 years in the Viet Nam era but never went overseas, I was fortunate, many of the men I served with did not come back or came back crippled or maimed for life.

I was an Executive Officer in a training center at Ft. Sill, OK. The one thing that stands out in my mind was one soldier who came back from Viet Nam badly wounded and missing some body parts. When he was released from the hospital he came by our outfit and thanked us for what we had taught him, he said we saved his life. I really got choked up that day.

Our forefathers fought and died for us for the last 200+ years. It is their sacrifice that allows us to live in the greatest country in the world.

Every time I watch the History Channel I am reminded of how many men died or were maimed to protect us and I am humbled by that knowledge.

I am proud that I served when my country called (I was drafted and lucky enough to be sent through Officer Candidate School).

I was raised by people who believed that it was every man's duty to serve his country when called up to do so. And I am a better person for having learned to take orders and learn about discipline. The Army taught me what I was capable of doing when necessary and taught me lessons that still serve me well to this day.
<Rant>
The sad thing about the Viet Nam era was that people could never separate the soldiers from the politicians. At the time I did not understand the politics, I went because my country called. The soldiers didn't make the decisions about what war to fight, they simply did their duty. They got spat on when they returned. It was the politicians who the protesters should have spit on, not the soldiers.
<End Rant>

Bill Tolle

hobbyfarm · Nov 15, 2004

Murph,
Ditto, 110%
(Too bad there's not a face for such emotion)

My son, just a few days after his 21st Bday was electricuted on August 9th this year. My tears are still fresh also.
Someone told me recently that when you lose a husband or wife, you're a widow or a widower.
Lose parents, you're an orphan, but there's no word for the loss you feel when your child is killed.
phil

MossRoad · Nov 16, 2004

Nice post, Murph. I still have the flag from my father's funeral. WWII vet. Lived a good life, but cut short by disease. He lives on, though. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

riptides · Nov 16, 2004

My child read the first part of the constitution to me last night.
She had to memorize it for school.

That was touching.

"we the people...."

-Mike Z. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

1bush2hog · Nov 17, 2004

Phil -

I am very sorry to hear about your son.

As a father of a 17 year old son, I can not even imagine that kind of loss.

wroughtn_harv · Nov 17, 2004

Good morning Phil,

I also would like to add my condolences for the loss of your son.

harvey

Tractors4u · Nov 17, 2004

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I know Veteran's Day was just last thursday. I work with a few Veterans. So from now on, I will thank a Veteran when I see one. So for all of you Veterans here on TBN, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. And yes there is tears in my eyes as I write this. )</font>

As some of you know I am in the Alabama Army National Guard. I have not fought yet, but my day may come. From time to time if I am in uniform at a restaurant or gas station someone will come up and thank me for my service. I feel very humbled considering that there are those that are over there getting dirty while I am state side. The most humbling though was last Saturday when we had duty. I was at a restaurant with two of my Guard buddies when an older gentleman came up and thanked us for our service. He proceeded to tell us that he was in Korea as a Combat Engineer. He recognized the Castle on my collar as a fellow Engineer. Here I am a National Guardsman being thanked by a Combat Veteran! Just before he left I stood up and extended my hand and thanked him for his service. His voice cracked as he thanked me and turned away quickly. If you know a Veteran, please thank them. They don't have the advantage of having a uniform to wear out in public so that people know what they did.

LWFrisk · Nov 17, 2004

I know the feeling and the emptyness.

I lost a son two days after his 36th birthday. He drove cross country big rigs, and to this day, I have to try to get a glimpse of the driver of every big rig I see on the road ---- Just can't give up hoping to see him behind the wheel.