It's heart wrenching, went to one today. A friend of ours daughter (mother of 3 teens) was killed in Iraq Nov. 5. I can't tell you how angry I am at the Pres. and how selfishly fortunate I feel my son came back alive.
When they performed the 21 gun salute and played taps I had to hum a song to myself in my head so I wouldn't break down...so awful.
So...if you have been...your thoughts on a military honor funeral?
2007-11-17 14:14:59 · 15 answers · asked by Grace 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Senior Citizens
ticd...thank you for explaining to me that my feelings about the President are ridiculous, rude, but I guess direct...and I'm hoping you don't vote in the future because you must have last go round.
2007-11-17 14:32:43 · update #1
My husband was buried in 1997 with full military honors, flag folding and salute, taps, the taps were played by a recording, because, they said that really there were not enough WW2, veterans left who could play taps. And the men at the funeral were all WW2 vets. His son and I chose red and white carnations to cover the casket. He helped open the Concentration camps in Germany, he never talked about it, but after he died I was sent his records. I thought the service was beautiful.
And you can be angry at George Bush, he wanted to go to war with Iraq, long before 9/11. Iraq did not send planes here to New York, that was Afghanistan.
And I worry that Bush wants to go to Iran now, and our poor boys are so tired, some of them have been to Iraq for three tours of duty. We need to bring the troops home.
2007-11-17 14:59:53 · answer #1 · answered by Anne2 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
I just went to a military funeral in October. It is at the very least, sobering. The gentleman served 2-3 tours in Nam and had earned the Purple heart along with many other military awards during his 30 year career. I live within an hour of a military base so I attend these funerals more often than the civilian population. All of our friends are retired military. When they present the family with the flag, the spent bullets are enclosed with the flag.
2007-11-18 19:34:48 · answer #2 · answered by kriend 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
danielle, you will have to go to your own father's funeral when the time comes. It is the final respect. And, yes, I went to a military honor funeral with some friends who are in the Patriot Guards. The funeral was so impressive. Quite an honor for a 22 year old soldier that gave his life. By the way, the Patriot Guards are a group of motorcycle riders that show up at military funerals to keep the protesters away. It is just a different kind of troll.
2007-11-17 14:35:28 · answer #3 · answered by Harley Lady 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I have been to 3 of them so far. All 3 were several years ago. One was an ex brother in law, one was my grandpa and the other was a uncle of mine.
The very first one, I had no clue as to how is was going to be. I am not trying to be funny here by any means at all. I thought that they had a funeral like any body else did. I saw the soldiers with the guns, had no clue that they were going to shoot them off. It scared the tar out of me, I jumped like I was shot. But when they started playing the taps, now I cried, don't know why. Then the flag was handed to the widow. But then after that one, I knew what to expect.
I know this is not the kind of answer that you was looking for here by any means.
2007-11-17 14:46:21 · answer #4 · answered by SapphireB 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Just went to one very recently, Grace...my daughter-in-law's grandfather. Had never been to one before, and like you, had a really tough time during the gun salute and most especially when they played taps. Seems like it just echoed through the cemetery.
No funeral is easy, but there's something so impressive about a military funeral that you walk away touched in a way you've never quite felt before.
I'm sorry for your friend's loss. It's past time for all of this to be over.
2007-11-17 15:05:26 · answer #5 · answered by night-owl gracie 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
my Daddy was career Navy so when he died in 1972 the funeral home arranged for him to have a military funeral. Chanute Air Force Base was still in operation at the time, and they sent an honor guard to officiate. They were all in their dress uniforms -- did the 21 gun salute and Taps. Most heart wrenching thing i have ever been through in my life. every year when i go for Memorial Day services, it is just like burying him all over again.
made quite an impression on a 12 year old girl
2007-11-17 14:30:23 · answer #6 · answered by bassetfreak 5 · 8⤊ 0⤋
My dad was a vet in the Africa (middle east?) World War II, and the VA sent out the fellas to play taps and have a gun salute. Then they gave us the flag. It is heart-wrenching and I hope I never have to experience it again.
2007-11-17 14:58:17 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
I went to my uncles military funeral, and I was so proud how he fought in WWII, and received the bronze metal for bravery. He was in the 442nd. It was made up of Japanese Americans, and they were heralded by the army, but not the American citizens. At that time, the Red Cross wouldn't touch them with a ten foot pole. The surprise was he never talked about it and upon his death was it told to me. He didn't receive the pomp and circumstance that you saw. How about a four gun salute? It works!
2007-11-19 02:00:53 · answer #8 · answered by Snoot 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have been to 2 of them, the last one was for my dad in 2000. He was a WWII and Korean vet. To me, they are very heart wrenching, especially when they play taps...rips my heart out. There is such a finality to it...but it is the final honor that we can give our veterans. Regardless wether we are Democrat or Republican, for the war or against it, we have to remember that all of these veterans have no choice as to where they are sent. That is the choice of the current president and administration. They should all be buried with dignity and we have to remember not to take our anger and disappointments out on the vets. That should be reserved for the politicians.
2007-11-18 02:02:03 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Yes - my Dad's. He passed in 1987 and had a full military honors funeral at Arlington National Cemetery. They closed that section of the site that day and upon exiting the chapel after the church service, I saw the casson with horses outside; the riderless horse with the boots on backwards and damned near passed out! Yes, it is moving yet so DRAINING. I was a mess - a mixture of extreme pride and gratefulness for him and his service to our country through several wars in combat; yet I could barely breathe too.
At each entrance/exit along our way to the burial site, there were young men [honor guard] standing at attention and saluting as we passed.
When we got to the burial site and sat down and later they did the gun salute, each sound of the rifles tore through me like a knife. Then when they began to remove the casket flag and fold it and brought it to my mom, and she, in turn, handed it to my son, I really lost it.
It is a wonderful tribute - yet one that also takes all your resolve to withstand. I just kept reminding myself that this man who withstood racism, bias having enlisted when the service was segregated, yet fought proudly for his country - deserved every minute of that tribute and I felt immensely proud to be his daughter.
Some may call this bragging - I call it recognition of a job more than well done...my Dad received 2 silver stars, 2 bronze stars, 3 purple hearts and three Commendation medals for his service during WWII and Korea. Not ONCE during his life did I ever him complain about a daggum thing. He just saw it as his opportunity to 'give back'. Wish he was still here as I miss him tremendously.
2007-11-18 03:15:09 · answer #10 · answered by sage seeker 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋