Last year, just after Memorial Day, I had the privilege of conducting a funeral for a local hero, and it reminded me of all the reasons why I chose to enter this profession.

This was a man  who was a hero of the Viet Nam war.   Before he even reached his 21st birthday, he had already earned two silver stars, two bronze stars, and three purple hearts. By running to the front lines during ambushes, by throwing himself in harm’s way,  he ensured that many of his fellow soldiers made it home to American soil instead of dying on enemy ground.

But when he came home, he couldn’t leave the war behind. He was tortured by the visions of things too horrific to describe. He never really slept, and even in his waking moments he was haunted by the faces of the young men he was unable to save. He wasn’t killed in Viet Nam, but he gave his life there. He was an American in every sense of the word.

Even though he was granted full disability by the VA, worked hard nearly every day of his life. His emotional problems made him reclusive, and when he died alone in January, it was months before he was discovered.

But he didn’t remain unnoticed. On what would have been his 59th birthday, he was given a hero’s burial.   The way the community came together to honor this great man was a wonderful reminder of why this s such a great place to live.
The staff at the church were wonderful, working hard to ensure he was given the burial he deserved, and making sure he was buried with his family.

The local nursery school graciously relocated their graduation so the two events would not conflict.

A local doctor offered his parking area to those attending the funeral.

The local fire department and fire police came and directed traffic, to make sure the graduation and funeral attendees were kept separated and safe. I didn’t even ask them: they just did it because they felt it was the right thing to do.

Our local congressional representative and her staff were crucial for helping to track down the vital information needed to ensure he received the military
honors he deserved.

The West Point Honor Guard came with an 8-person contingent, and gave a moving and poignant tribute to a fellow soldier. To have more than two people in an honor guard is nearly unheard of.

The most important part, however, was how many members of the community came. That show of support from the community, both from those who knew him and those
who simply wished to honor a stranger, was amazing.

If nothing else, their presence was a testament to all area veterans that for their sacrifice, we are humbled, honored, and grateful.