A last Fare well that hit close to home

[shots1971]

This week I attended the funeral for our Command Sergent Major of our unit.  His death came as a great shock to all of us as he had not been ill or any thing as far as any one knew.

Hell I had just talked with him last month at drills and other then looking thin and tired which is the normal for him (with that rank comes a lot of head-aces and  he must of had his fair share of them in the last year with this new Col that no one is pleased with at the unit)

Any way I went for two reasons one I am the family support leader and two I was there to pay my respects to a fallen soldier of the unit on behalf of my husband and my self. I drove up with another CSMJ of the unit as I was not formulae with the town this funeral was being held in.

Any way Chet (the soldier I rode up with ) was part of the funeral detail (was the one that would present the flag to the wife) So I had to go with him to meet with the rest of the soldiers to practice the flag folding and presenting of the flag before the graveside services.

I watched for a little bit as they practices folding the flag and placing the three bullets in flag and then I turned to my book .  Well then they got to the part were Chet would say his speech and give the flag to the wife. The room got quiet and all eyes went to me Mrs Winders can you come sit here in this chair and take the place of the widow as Chet practices giving it to you.

At first I did not think any thing of this as I knew they needed to practice this was importation to all of them that they make no mistakes today. But when I sat down in that chair and I heard those words spoke and then that flag was handed to me with great care I felt tears swallow up inside me threatening to  burst out if I did not get up out of that chair and hand that flag back to some one.

It was only seconds before I found my voice but to me it seemed like minutes with that flag laid neatly in my lap I spoke " Do you want to me stay here holding the flag" Chet took the flag back from me and I walked quietly to the bathroom to gain control of my self before I lost it in front of them all.

I kept thinking as Chet said his speech that is spoken at every soldiers funeral dear god some day this flag will be placed in my hands at my beloved soldiers funeral. PLEASE god don't let it be to soon let it be a life time away.

This was going through my mind and I could feel such great pain for Jo (his wife) as I watched her take the flag and know that god called him all to soon away from her.

God bless and keep our soldiers safe but god if you must take a few from this world please be with the loved ones of that soldier who cherished every day they had with their soldier.

[shots1971]

Feb. 13, 2009 at 1:57 PM

I want to thank any one who has read this post thus far as just by you reading this you have taken the time understand a soldier's families feelings.

(Original Poster)

[PorcelainMom81]

Feb. 13, 2009 at 6:19 PM

OoRah.

[webbsbaby]

Feb. 15, 2009 at 9:33 PM

i hope my flyboy stays close to me cause lord knows im not ready for him to leave. but everytime we go to a fallen soliders funeral it takes everything in me to help the widow and not put myself in that mindset. god bless.

[MmaMaMa1203]

Mar. 11, 2009 at 10:14 AM

Being a new military wife, its hard to even grasp that this could happen to me. But the opportunity is there every single day. Thanks for reminding me to love my soldier every day like it is the day before the folded flag is handed to me.