"On behalf of the President of the United States, the Department of the Air Force, and a grateful nation, we offer this flag for faithful and dedicated service ."
That is what is said at a veteran's funeral when the Air Force Honor Guard presents the United States flag to the grieving family member. It won't be said at my funeral.
It is something reserved for those that served our country. I've heard it twice in the last year.
Both times I was proud.
On August 9, 2008 my father-in-law passed away. Next to him in his coffin was the familiar triangle of a folded United States flag. That same flag was draped over his coffin as my son and his six cousins carried their grandfather to the hearse and the grave site. He was a retired Air Force Lt. Colonel. Flew C-130 planes in Viet Nam.
November 26, 2008 my father passed away. He was placed in his coffin in his United States Air Force uniform. A United States flag also covered his coffin. He was a lifer. Retired as a Colonel after 30 years. As we moved my father out of the church many of his friends saluted as the coffin rolled by.
At both funerals the sound of a single bugle playing taps, punctuated by three abrupt explosions from the rifle salute, finalized the services. Both times, sadness and the pride melted together and reminded me that there was a generation of men and women to whom service to our country was valued, rewarded and in some cases, expected. I was very proud.
I am also proud of my brother, a retired Air Force Chief Master Sergeant. He was in Desert Storm as a Crew Chief on C-130 planes. Special Ops he said. Meaning he couldn't really tell us what he was doing there.
My wife's brother-in-law is a retired Air Force Major. His two brothers are, or were, in the Army.
My grandfather (father's father) volunteered at 16 to fight in WWI - he spent years in France, tending the horses that pulled the cannons from battlefield to battlefield.
My mother's father volunteered for the Navy in WWII.
I have friends from High School who enlisted and served.
Many, many of us have similar connections to the military and the work they do.
Please take some time today to remember their service to us as a nation, and to you and me individually.
To all our veterans. Thank you.
UPDATE:I set up a Thank You card at a site for twitter users called HashLove - it is to the Joint Chief of Staff of the entire armed forces. Please sign the card so he knows we're thankful and can share our thanks with the men and women of our armed forces. The link is: http://hashlove.com/cards/154
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