If a funeral can be called amazing, this was it. I have always felt like I have been very patriotic, that is how we were raised. But patriotism holds a brand new meaning for me. I have a new found respect for those who serve our country. It is a selfless act that they stand there at the front line while we are at home enjoying our time, our families, and our freedoms. I heard many times this past weekend how war is a "necessary evil" and I could not agree more.
Thursday, we drove to Hills Air Force Base in Salt Lake City, UT for the ramp ceremony of the body being flown in. The only word to describe this event was "chills." We all loaded up in a small bus and drove the 2 mile road to the runway. With the Patriot Guard in attendance, there was a very quiet ceremony. Our journey back was timeless. Every man or woman in uniform that day lined the streets, saluting as we passed with the hearst. No traffic was in movement. Men and women stopped their cars and stood outside with their hands on their hearts. The bus was silenced even with children aboard and not a dry eye present. Saturday, the funeral went all too well. The burial was another chilling moment. With the Honor Guard, the 21 Gun Salute, the trumpet being played, the Patriot Guards surrounding us with flags, its almost overwhelming.