Aug 28

Written by: glendajoy
8/28/2008 8:41 PM

I attended a funeral today. It was for a man that I have never had the pleasure of meeting.
It is always interesting to me to listen to what people say about a person when they pass. You can get a real taste for who that person was.

Because he was in the military, there was an honor guard ceremony at the end. First, the song, Taps, was played. I can’t remember another song that holds such power without any words. Surely, it was inspired.

Then, two uniformed Army officers began the slow process of folding the flag. Slowly, carefully they lifted it off of the top of the coffin. Respectfully, they begin the long process of folding it. Once that was complete, one of soldiers embraces the folded flag and presses it to his heart with both arms and holds it there for a few moments. That action silently shouts a statement of how very precious this flag is to everyone who serves this country, and those who benefit from their service. It is the very banner under which they all live and die. I felt a stirring in my own heart when he did that.

Last, one of the soldiers, holding the folded flag, marched toward the son of the man that had died. I was sitting close enough that I heard the first few words that he spoke as he handed over the flag. He said, ‘This is from a grateful America…”.

I am one of the grateful hearts he was speaking for. Many times, I have not given voice to what's in my heart, when it comes to saying 'thank you'.  This will not be one of them.

And so, with the flag held close to my heart, I say these words to everyone who served our country in the military:
I am truly appreciative and grateful for your sacrifice. I have benefited from your patriotism and bravery. And, I will not forget what you, and those that fought along side of you did for this country.

As a Marine Corps veteran of Iwo Jima passed the graves of his fallen brothers as he left the island to go home, he saw a piece of paper with a handwritten note that caught his eye. It said something like this: 'Tell them we gave up all of our tomorrows, so that they could have their todays'.

To all of you who have served- and are serving- thank you from the depths of my heart for all of my todays.

Copyright ©2008 glenda clark

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