It's Not a Phase

Sunday, September 02, 2007

God Bless Texas

This came to me via email & I thought I'd share. If you've never had the pleasure to visit Texas, you should come sometime. We really do ROCK like that.......


In Texas we really do pull off the road and stop for funerals......nobody moves until the last car has gone by.

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.
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 military presence..at least two generals, a fist full of colonels, and representatives from every branch of the service, plus the color guard who 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. These photos are awesome !!







5 Comments:

At 12:50 PM, Blogger Tori :) said...

Hell yeah Texas rocks!
I still remember during Nicole's funeral procession people got out of their cars and put their hats over their hearts. It was touching.
Up here in Utah processions don't even get a police escort.
Texas is awesome.

 
At 4:10 PM, Blogger Klin said...

Sad to say Tori is right. They stopped doing escorts many years ago. It really sucks.

Yay for Texas and for all those folks who care. That is just awesome.

Welcome back, too. Did you get your computer fixed or did you end up buying a new one?

 
At 9:54 PM, Blogger Mel said...

I've never heard of something like that! Very touching... thanks for sharing.

 
At 9:12 AM, Blogger Klin said...

Hey, Happy Birthday. You are a young 'en, compared to me :D

 
At 8:30 PM, Blogger Unknown said...

I can't imagine anything different. I love the great state of Texas. I'm here from Tori's place and apparently a Happy Birthday is in order, so, Happy, Happy birthday, I'm really glad I came. Happy Happy Birthday from the entire gang. (Okay, I didn't make that up. When I was in high school, I worked at Shoney's. Sorry, but happy birthday anyway.)

 

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