Something My Retired Col. Brother Wrote a Couple Days Ago
This weekend I am grateful for those service members who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country and their families that paid a price too.
In September 2008 while preparing to come home on leave from Bagram Air Field, I had the honor to serve on a funeral detail for 3 service member of the Pennsylvania National Guard that had been killed in a firefight. I will never forget the emotion of their team saying one final goodbye as the caskets were loaded on the Humvees to be transported to the C17 for one final journey home. It was a long procession down Disney Drive and members of the military and civilians lined the road and many from allied counties came to pay respects. The emotion is one that is hard. As we approached the plane a piper played Amazing Grace on the bagpipes. I know my eyes were not dry. To this day I can't keep my eyes dry for that and Taps on a bugle. I was one experience that was a honor and yet one of the hardest to send a brother in arms home in a casket.
This weekend while eating hotdogs and burgers, remember why we celebrate the day and give thanks to those who are the reason.