Military honors

After our 500-mile drive yesterday, we were back in the car today for an hour’s drive to attend the funeral for a good friend’s dad (aged 98+). As an Army veteran during the Korean War, his funeral was accorded military honors.

First, the local VFW members were the last to visit the casket in the church, where each member, one-by-one, stopped before the casket and saluted, before the casket was closed. (At this time, I think a bullet was given to a family member from a tray used for this this rifle volley outside at the grave site.)

In the cemetery, two [very] young Army privates very meticulously removed the flag from the casket, held it during the playing of “Taps” and folded the flag to its traditional triangular “pillow” before presenting — on one knee — to a family member.

I thought the rendition of “Taps” was beautiful and was going to comment to Clare that the musician (hidden behind the second rifleman from left above) still has quite the lung power! Before I could, though, Clare pointed out that his cheeks never puffed out and the beautiful playing we heard was from a mobile device discreetly held in one hand while he held his bugle aloft. Okay, that’s fine; these VFW guys are not young men!

I didn’t know if there would be smoke or fire from the rifles, but I was pleased to capture three of the ejected cartridges in mid-air with this photo.

See also: “Final Homecoming”.

Quiz time! Once it’s folded lengthwise twice (but watch the video linked below — it’s not folded exactly in half with the two initial folds — do you know how many times the flag is folded to its triangular shape?

» Video: “How to fold a U.S. flag for military funeral ceremony” — very interesting!
» “American Flag-Folding Procedures”
» “The Meaning Behind the 13 Folds of Old Glory”
 
[PXL_20240102_180100238_12x9DesGlow-tm :: cell phone ]

January 2 posts (Clearly a rough date for posting! We’re usually just-back from long drives.)
  1 year ago: No post
 2 years ago: No post
 3 years ago: “Three generations [Travel day filler]”
 4 years ago: No post
 5 years ago: No post
 6 years ago: No post
 7 years ago: No post
 8 years ago: “‘7 discrimination’!”
 9 years ago: “Yeah. This is pretty bad…”
10 years ago: “In·de·fat·i·ga·ble: adj. cannot be tired out...”
11 years ago: “*How* much for a 16 year old guest?”
12 years ago: “Christmas decor put away…”
13 years ago: “Structure and Shadow”

[Mags]

Somber but wonderful capture. The local VFWs always do well for the veterans that have passed.

[Kathy]

Military salute like this is very stirring. It's disappointing to hear recorded music. At my husband's Celebration of Life, I had a trumpeter play Taps, then go to the front of the church (outside) and play Reverie at the end of the service.

[PhotoCrazy]

Wonderful!

[Thom Mitchell]

@randystreat I wonder how many knew they were hearing a recording. I certainly didn't know, and while I have long appreciated the live and spontaneous nature of live music and live performances, it was beautiful just the same. Considering an alternative, if it had been played badly, *that* would have been very unfortunate. There's a tradeoff here, for sure.

Wow. Taps *and* Reverie. Live. I bet that was powerful!

[Kathy]

It was Thom. The whole service was.

[Corinne C]

A great timing. Seems that it was a nice service.

[bkb in the city]

Beautiful shot and narrative