Friday, March 09, 2007

Texas and Respect For Our Soldiers!


In Texas they really do pull off the road and stop for funerals......nobody moves until the last car has gone by.


What follows is a message from Vicki Pierce about her nephew James' funeral (he was serving our country in Iraq): "I'm back, it was certainly a quick trip, but I have to also say it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. There is a lot to be said for growing up in a small town in Texas. The service itself was impressive with wonderful flowers and sprays, a portrait of James, his uniform and boots, his awards and ribbons. There was lots of military brass and an eloquent (though inappropriately longwinded) Baptist preacher. There were easily 1000 people at the service, filling the church sanctuary as well as the fellowship hall and spilling out into the parking lot. However, the most incredible thing was what happened following the service on the way to the cemetery. We went to our cars and drove to the cemetery escorted by at least 10 police cars with lights flashing and some other emergency vehicles, with Texas Rangers handling traffic. Everyone on the road who was not in the procession, pulled over, got out of their cars, and stood silently and respectfully, some put their hands over their hearts. When we turned off the highway suddenly there were teenage boys along both sides of the street about every 20! feet o r so, all holding large American flags on long flag poles, and again with their hands on their hearts. We thought at first it was the Boy Scouts or 4H club or something, but it continued ... for two and a half miles. Hundreds of young people, standing silently on the side of the road with flags. At one point we passed an elementary school, and all the children were outside, shoulder to shoulder holding flags . kindergartners, handicapped, teachers, staff, everyone. Some held signs of love and support. Then came teenage girls and younger boys, all holding flag! s. Then adults. Then families. All standing silently on the side of the road. No one spoke, not even the very young children. The military presence..at least two generals, a fist full of colonels, and representatives from every branch of the service, plus the color guard who attended James, and some who served with him . was very impressive and respectful, but the love and pride from this community who had lost one of their own was the most amazing thing I've ever been privileged to witness. I've attached some pictures, some are blurry (we were moving), but you can get a small idea of what this was like. Thanks so much for all the prayers and support."









GO USA and GOD BLESS ALL OF OUR SOLDIERS !



They Need Our Prayers
Prayer

"Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they

protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they

perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our

Lord and Savior. Amen."




Of all the gifts you could give a US Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine &others deployed in harm's way, Prayer is the very best one!

8 comments:

TO BECOME said...

I live on the Coast of Texas. A few small towns over a young Man died while serving in Iraq. At the time of his funeral, there were flags were flying ever 30 to 50 feet apart will smaller ones in between. This went on for miles and miles. It was a beautiful sight. Connie from Texas

Kimberly said...

Very touching.

Unknown said...

Thank you for sharing Connie! I love hearing of and seeing folks being patriotic and true to their own flag! I am sick and tired of our own citizen's acting and speaking hatefully about our own country. To hear some American's speak, you would think we are the worst country in the world.

Kim: I posted this after I received it in an email. It was so touching to me, I felt I must share it!

Rita Loca said...

Very moving! I pray for them ,and a few by name every day!

Sis. Julie said...

This is a very touching post and was a real blessing. My brother in law is serving in Iraq right now....he's been there since November and won't be home till next January. His wife and 20 mo. old daughter are in NC. My main concern for Chris is he is lost. But ever since he was deployed to Iraq the first time along with his wife (that was almost three years ago) I have had a new look on things where soldiers are concerned. Thank you for this post!!

Anonymous said...

Wonderful post...I pray for them everyday! I have two nephews in the military

Candy said...

Amen! God bless them. It was SO AWESOME to see these pictures. I have never seen people do that for our soilders here in Canada :(
makes me want to cry or get mad about that. I want people here to support our troops better!
Im going to start doing something myself.

Anonymous said...

Your patriotism warms my heart. I think our soldiers deserve the highest respect!

I found this video that really gets me every time I watch it:

http://www.roty.com/DoYouRememberMe/DoYouRememberMe.html