HERE SGT MAJOR

[Dennis S]

Did anyone hear the memorial at Ft. Hood when they had the Roll Call for the dead soldiers? No matter how stoic someone thinks they are, it would be impossible not to cry when your loved-one's name was called.

[cbelt3]

Soldiers have time honored traditions for grief. The traditions, symbols, and ceremonies give solace. Reversed boots on a riderless horse, the 'missing man' formation in the air, 21 gun salutes.... I tear up when I hear "Taps", and pipers playing "Amazing Grace".... well, I usually can't see for the tears for at least a few minutes after.

I think I'd like a piper playing that when they lower my remains into the ground.... In fact I think I'm going to put that in my will.

[RgrF]

So would "Danny Boy" precede or follow "Amazing Grace"? I'll be content to be burned to a crisp.































... on a Viking ship drifting out to sea!

[cbelt3]

Rg-

At my grandfather Daniel's funeral, one of my red-haired cousins (a lovely young lady who had recently earned her PhD in English Literature) sang "Danny Boy" in a clear, bright voice, completely a capella. The small Connecticut church (that my grandparents had donated the majority of the funds to build) was filled with bright autumnal sun, but the light of her voice gleamed more brilliantly than the morning sun through the stained glass.

The whole family (7 children, over 20 grandchildren, and over 40 great-grandchildren) wept silent tears of joy mixed with sorrow as silence settled on the congregation of over 400 souls for well over 10 minutes.

I can't bear to hear that song again. I'm tearing up just thinking about it.

Oh.. And yes, a piper came to the cemetery and played "Amazing Grace" as he was lowered into the ground.

Did I mention that my family is desperately Irish ?

[RgrF]

My grandson is named for his grandfather -- Daniel. Danny never met Dan.

At his Catholic funeral both were played and I agree, even as an agnostic, the combination will bring a tear to the eye. My wife's family was Boston Irish Catholic and then she met me a parochial school student rebel who left the church at about 13 and never returned.

More's the pity.

[Gutenberg]

Roger--

Fsck off. Military men and women, and their families, see friends and family cut down during the best years of their lives far too often. If they want to get sentimental about the funerals, that's up to them and they don't need your snobbery.

[RgrF]

Sorry you took it that way.

The returning Military has been well fucked over by this nation for a long time, I think it time to end that.

[Pops]

There are refresher courses for reading comprehension, Gut. You ought to consider one.

[Gutenberg]

Pops wrote:
There are refresher courses for reading comprehension, Gut. You ought to consider one.

I was responding to Roger's flip comment about "Danny Boy," "Amazing Grace," and his preferred method of immolation. I did not see his second comment until just now.

I am tired of people making jokes about others' grief. I understood what he said perfectly.

[Black]

Gutenberg wrote:
[quote=Pops]
There are refresher courses for reading comprehension, Gut. You ought to consider one.

I was responding to Roger's flip comment about "Danny Boy," "Amazing Grace," and his preferred method of immolation. I did not see his second comment until just now.

I am tired of people making jokes about others' grief. I understood what he said perfectly.
Rgr was expressing his own wishes, keying off of cbelt's last sentence.
Your reaction was bizarre.
I want coffee served at my funeral.