Missileer
Active member
Here is an email I got at home. It's very touching. The pictures are at
http://community.webshots.com/user/lknou
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."
http://community.webshots.com/user/lknou
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."
