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 :
Sep '11
Re: Respect for a Fallen Soldier
A very moving post. Thank you.
Jun '10
Re: Respect for a Fallen Soldier
Sir, you are the one to be honored. Thank you.
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
May '11
Re: Respect for a Fallen Soldier
“There is no greater love than this: that a person would lay down his life for the sake of his friends.” John 15:13
Amen
Jan '11
Re: Respect for a Fallen Soldier
Thank you for sharing this.
Sep '10
Re: Respect for a Fallen Soldier
AUMom: Sir, you are the one to be honored. Thank you.
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
Jan 8 at 5:19am
Wow. I missed this the first time. Thank you Michael.
Nov '11
Re: Respect for a Fallen Soldier
Beautiful...Grateful, very much more hopeful, and praying!
Jun '10
Re: Respect for a Fallen Soldier
*Slow Salute*
May '10
Re: Respect for a Fallen Soldier
AUMom: Sir, you are the one to be honored. Thank you.
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
Jan 8 at 5:19am
Thanks.
Jul '11
Re: Respect for a Fallen Soldier
May the soul of PFC Whitmire rest in peace, and my prayers and sympathy for his family.
Thank you, AUMom for your post and for the honor you showed PFC Whitmire.
While we're at it, thanks to Michael Labeit and to the Patriot Guard.
Edited on Jan 8 at 5:54pmJan '12
Re: Respect for a Fallen Soldier
This was a beautiful post. Thank you for sharing with us.
May '10
Re: Respect for a Fallen Soldier
Pseudodionysius
AUMom: Sir, you are the one to be honored. Thank you.
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
Jan 8 at 5:19am
Wow. I missed this the first time. Thank you Michael. · Jan 8 at 12:48pm
Sure thing.