Say a prayer

[Kcwhippet]

We buried my dad today. The graveside ceremony was most impressive. It began, as usual, with several words and passages from several clerics, including an Air Force Colonel who is also a Roman Catholic chaplain. The military part followed with an 18 gun salute by a Marine Corps fire team. After the salute we heard a USMC bugler playing Taps. Then the flag team raised the American flag off my dad's casket and went through a ten minute procedure to fold and tuck the flag. The fire team laeder then came over and inserted three spent shells into the flag. The USMC team commander, a Brigadier General, then gave the flag to my dad's wife. That finished the ceremony. Interestingly, I learned later from the BG that the flag was to be presented, by protocol, to the eldest living blood relative. That would have been me, but I didn't want to rock the boat, so I let it go. Anyway, it was a very poignant and stirring ceremony. I am so glad my dad was honored by all the folks he worked with in the military and afterwards. He would have been impressed. I miss him!!! I saw many relatives, including his younger brother (92 yo) and cousins I haven't seen in about 15 - 25 years. A nice day.

Thanks to all for their kind words and thoughts.