Respect for a Fallen Soldier
Army Private First Class Justin Whitmire, age 20, was laid to rest today. He was killed after only 11 days in Afghanistan, just 2 days after Christmas, as he and other medics were heading out on a volunteer mission. Their jeep ran over an IED. Before he deployed, he told his youth pastor that he wanted to be a soldier because soldiers help and serve.
The Westboro folks promised to come and disrupt the funeral. Within minutes, news sites and Facebook spread the dreaded news. I should thank them. Not for their hate but for the mobilization they caused.
Hundreds of the Patriot Guard rode shotgun. In addition, the folks in the Upstate of South Carolina volunteered to line the way to the cemetery. This was not a counter protest. It was an honor guard. The crowd was amazing — and American. Dads with sons, senior citizens, families, single adults, moms with babies in strollers, Scout troops, young couples, and veterans. The wardrobe was either red, white, and blue or black. Flags flew everywhere. Signs thanking Pfc Whitmire for his service and ultimate sacrifice were frequent.
The traffic was horrific. We had to pull over and park 2 miles from where we intended to stand. It was okay though. We were all coming to honor a young man and support his family.
An hour before the procession actually started, the corner was lively, full of a social atmosphere with conversations going up and down the street. We saw several folks that we knew and chatted, relaying stories of the Wal-mart confrontation (or the lack thereof) with Westboro as well as the number of people who lined Main Street from Fountain Inn to Simpsonville.
When the first blue lights appeared from the church, it all stopped. It went immediately and eerily quiet. Even the babies were silent. The only thing you could hear were the cars and motorcycles as they passed. I was embarrassed when I spoke out loud at recognizing one of the families in the procession. Conversation was intrusive.
My group was on the street that joined the church to Main Street. Across from us was a Viet Nam veteran in motorcycle chaps and a leather vest who stood in salute as the hearse passed. The lady next to him, her walker festooned with flags, stood at attention and wept. Friends at the first turn said the hush was complete as those in the funeral procession realized that both sides of the street were lined the entire 3.5 miles to the cemetery.
The cars in the procession all had people wiping their eyes. The soldiers looked stunned. As the cars went by, I wondered if they knew we were there — well, until I saw the first 25 phones filming the crowds. We nodded our support to them. They smiled their appreciation to us. Did the soldiers who were driving in the procession know we were standing there for them too?
The nation lost one of its finest. I weep for his parents. I am humbled by the response complete strangers showed to his passing. Today Main Street was the place to be.
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Comments :
Feb '11
Re: Respect for a Fallen Soldier
What more can be said, then what he hath already said.
Jul '10
Re: Respect for a Fallen Soldier
[tears]
Re: Respect for a Fallen Soldier
<slow salute, through tears>
AUMom, thanks for writing this.
Jun '10
Re: Respect for a Fallen Soldier
Thank you. It was an unforgettable afternoon.
May '11
Re: Respect for a Fallen Soldier
Your poignant post went straight to my heart. I shared it on my Facebook page. Others beyond the Ricochet family need to have an opportunity to embrace it and to mourn for our loss. Thank you.
Aug '10
Re: Respect for a Fallen Soldier
Thanks so much for this. Pity it juxtaposes so harshly with the guy who is CnC.
May '10
Re: Respect for a Fallen Soldier
Wow. What an amazing story. Thank you for participating and sharing it.
Re: Respect for a Fallen Soldier
There's a photo gallery of the day's proceedings here. Very powerful photographs. And a very poignant post, AUMom. Thank you.
May '10
Re: Respect for a Fallen Soldier
Beautiful post. Thank you for sharing.
Jun '10
Re: Respect for a Fallen Soldier
Great post, AUMom. American community at its finest. Sorrow, and yet pride. Thank you.
Sep '10
Re: Respect for a Fallen Soldier
Thank you AUMom for showing us DeTocqueville's vision of America's spine with steel in it. Canada honors and salutes his sacrifice, as do I.
May '10
Re: Respect for a Fallen Soldier
Finished my 7th military funeral here at Ft. Richardson today. It was snowing and something like 1 or 2 degrees, but unless there's an unusually bad blizzard or "black" road conditions nothing really stops us from conducting funerals outside (moving the casket, folding the flag, 21 gun salute, etc).
Edited on Jan 7 at 8:48pmJun '10
Re: Respect for a Fallen Soldier
Funeral Processional for Pfc Justin Whitmire in Simpsonville
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIRYphdacC0
Oct '11
Re: Respect for a Fallen Soldier
I am sorry for his family's loss.
Oct '11
Re: Respect for a Fallen Soldier
And for the loss we as a nation suffered for him and all the others who have died for the rest of us.
Re: Respect for a Fallen Soldier
Michael Labeit: Finished my 7th military funeral here at Ft. Richardson today. It was snowing and something like 1 or 2 degrees, but unless there's an unusually bad blizzard or "black" road conditions nothing really stops us from conducting funerals outside (moving the casket, folding the flag, 21 gun salute, etc). · Jan 7 at 8:40pm
Edited on Jan 07 at 08:48 pm
Michael, are you part of the funeral detail, or the honor guard? If so, thank you. And thank you for your service, and for being there when our people are laid to rest with dignity and honor.
May '10
Re: Respect for a Fallen Soldier
Dave Carter
Michael Labeit: Finished my 7th military funeral here at Ft. Richardson today. It was snowing and something like 1 or 2 degrees, but unless there's an unusually bad blizzard or "black" road conditions nothing really stops us from conducting funerals outside (moving the casket, folding the flag, 21 gun salute, etc).
Michael, are you part of the funeral detail, or the honor guard? If so, thank you. And thank you for your service, and for being there when our people are laid to rest with dignity and honor.
Funeral detail. And its my pleasure.
Apr '11
Re: Respect for a Fallen Soldier
Beautiful piece. Prayers for the family.
Apr '11
Re: Respect for a Fallen Soldier
My nephew Joe was killed by an IED in Afghanistan. I don't know how to put this delicately: It is very hard on the families to receive pieces of their loved ones, not to have a whole body to inter. My sister was so grateful that the [motorcycle riders] came out to Joe's burial.
Very nice post, AUMom. Thank you.
Edited on Jan 8 at 2:27amApr '11
Re: Respect for a Fallen Soldier
Thank you for sharing this very moving story. It serves to remind us that the American spirit remains very much stronger and more pervasive than we are often invited to believe.