From a Friend in Texas - SOLDIER'S FUNERAL, TEXAS STYLE

December 7, 2003

No words necessary.

Vaughn

What follows is a message from Vicki Pierce ( in

Highlands Ranch) about her nephew ' 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 , 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, some had small flags. Shop keepers came outside with their customers and

did the same thing. Construction workers stopped their work, got off their

equipment and put their hands over their hearts, too. There was no noise

whatsoever except a few birds and the quiet hum of cars going slowly up the

road.

When we turned off the highway suddenly there were

teenage boys along both sides of the street about every 20 feet or 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 flags. Then adults. Then families. All standing silently on the side of

the road. No one spoke, not even the very young children. The last few turns

found people crowded together holding flags or with their hands on their hearts.

Some were on horseback.

The military presence...at least two generals, a

fist full of colonels, and representatives from every branch of the service,

plus the color guard which attended , 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. "

These photos are awesome!!

ups1.jpg

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flag2.jpg

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flag3.jpg

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flag4.jpg

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flag5.jpg

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flag6.jpg

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flag7.jpg

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flag8.jpg

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road1.jpg

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road2.jpg

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flag1.jpg

December 7, 2003

I don't know how much of it was PLS emotional lability (which normally

doesn't affect me much) - I am not American (though our guys are over there

fighting by your side too) but by the time I finished reading that I had

tears streaming down my face. Couldn't imagine it happening here like

that.....

Original Message:

-----------------

From: Vaughn Hickman vnhick@...

Date: Sun, 7 Dec 2003 14:31:20 -0500

To: PLS-FRIENDS

Subject: From a Friend in Texas - SOLDIER'S FUNERAL, TEXAS

STYLE

<tt>

No words necessary.

Vaughn

What follows is a message from Vicki Pierce

( in Highlands Ranch) about her nephew ' 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 , 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, some had small flags. Shop keepers

came outside with their customers and did the same thing. Construction

workers stopped their work, got off their equipment and put their hands

over their hearts, too. There was no noise whatsoever except a few birds

and the quiet hum of cars going slowly up the road.

When we turned off the highway suddenly there

were teenage boys along both sides of the street about every 20 feet or 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 flags. Then adults. Then families. All

standing silently on the side of the road. No one spoke, not even the very

young children. The las

t few turns found people crowded together holding flags or with their

hands on their hearts. Some were on horseback.

The military presence...at least two

generals, a fist full of colonels, and representatives from every branch of

the service, plus the color guard which attended , 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. "

These photos are awesome!!

ups1.jpg

--------------------------------------------------

flag2.jpg

--------------------------------------------------

flag3.jpg

--------------------------------------------------

flag4.jpg

--------------------------------------------------

flag5.jpg

--------------------------------------------------

flag6.jpg

--------------------------------------------------

flag7.jpg

--------------------------------------------------

flag8.jpg

--------------------------------------------------

road1.jpg

--------------------------------------------------

road2.jpg

--------------------------------------------------

flag1.jpg

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