Thursday, May 24, 2012

In HONOR of Those Who Serve ~ A Memorial Day Tribute

On April 4, 2012 we lost one of our community’s own, according to The Columbus Dispatch obituary, “due to combat injuries sustained in Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 148th Infantry Regiment of the 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.”  He was only 36 years old, and left behind a wife and two darling little girls, as well as his mother, father and step-mother, and a brother, among others.
He was buried in the cemetery near his home, and our son’s and DIL’s home, and when we learned of the opportunity to pay our respects, I,  along with our son and DIL, and their three children (the youngest was born two days earlier), walked over to the cemetery.
Honoring those who serve
We took the opportunity to teach them about the flag and love of country, (though the lesson of the correct hand was yet to be learned).
Honoring those who serve
Honoring veterans
 Honoring veterans Interesting fact:  Though often referred to as a 21-gun salute, according to various sources, at a military funeral the three rifle volleys are not considered a salute.
From http://usmilitary.about.com/od/theorderlyroom/f/funeralhonors.htmAt military funerals, one often sees three volleys of shots fired in honor of the deceased veteran. This is often mistaken by the laymen as a 21-gun salute, although it is entirely different (in the military, a "gun" is a large-calibered weapon. The three volleys are fired from "rifles," not "guns." Therefore, the three volleys isn't any kind of "gun salute," at all)…[It is] simply three rifle volleys fired. The firing team can consist of any number, but one usually sees a team of eight, with a noncommissioned officer in charge of the firing detail. Whether the team consists of three or eight, or ten, each member fires three times (three volleys).
The three volleys comes from an old battlefield custom. The two warring sides would cease hostilities to clear their dead from the battlefield, and the firing of three volleys meant that the dead had been properly cared for and the side was ready to resume the battle.
The flag detail often slips three shell-casings into the folded flag before presenting the flag to the family. Each casing represents one volley.
Honoring veterans Honoring veterans
Honoring veterans
Honoring our fallen  The Riderless Horse
One of the oldest and most evocative of military traditions in a full honor funeral is that of the riderless, caparisoned horse. The horse is led behind the caisson wearing an empty saddle with the riders boots reversed in the stirrups. This indicates the warrior will never ride again.  Tradition allows a caparisoned horse to follow the casket at any Army or Marine Corps commissioned officer in the rank colonel or above. Presidents of our nation, as Commander in Chief, are accorded the same honor.  From: http://www.army.mil/info/organization/unitsandcommands/commandstructure/theoldguard/specplt/caisson.htm
Honoring our fallen,
 Honoring our heroes
Child honors our fallen heroes.
We bow our heads to thank all who serve and have served, and those who have paid the ultimate price for the
FREEDOM
we enjoy in this wonderful country of ours and that at times we take for granted.
{The mere fact that we can freely and without fear attend this funeral —and that I can create this post—is testament to OUR FREEDOM…FREEDOM that so many in the world, including those in Cuba, the country my family fled in 1961, do not have.}
God Bless America
I will be presenting this post at the following blogs this week to HONOR THOSE WHO SERVE:
Sunday Showcase Party at http://www.bystephanielynn.com/
Show Off Your Cottage Monday at http://houseinroses.blogspot.com
Mop it Up Monday at http://www.ishouldbemoppingthefloor.com
Metamorphosis Monday at http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/
Masterpiece Monday at http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com/
Cozy Home Scenes Tuesdays at http://cozyhomescenes.blogspot.com/
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com
Tuesday’s Treasures http://www.myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/
Tabletop Tuesday at http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/
Wow Us Wednesdays at http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/
Winter Blues Party at http://diybydesign.blogspot.com/
Centerpiece Wednesday at http://www.thestylesisters.blogspot.com/
What's It Wednesday at http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/
Home and Garden Thursday at http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/
Open House Party Thursday at http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com
Share Your Cup Thursday at http://jannolson.blogspot.com/
Transformation Thursdays at http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/
Feathered Nest Friday at http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/
Home Sweet Home Fridays at http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/
Potpourri Friday at http://twenty-eight-0-five.blogspot.com/
Inspiration Friday at http://www.atthepicketfence.com
Thrifty Things Friday at http://thethriftygroove.blogspot.com/
Vintage Inspiration Friday at http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com/
Show and Tell Friday at http://romantichome.blogspot.com/
Home Sweet Home Friday at http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/
Fridays Unfolded at http://www.stuff-and-nonsense.net/
Saturday Nite Special at http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/
I wish you and yours a happy day celebrating our freedom.  ~Zuni

































25 comments:

  1. This is such a lovely post. I'm so moved by those precious children being purposefully taught about our flag and our country. If only more would do this.

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a moving post. My heart goes out to this fallen soldier's family and community. I have had the privilege of knowing many Cuban American families and they seem to understand our freedoms better than so many in our country who take them for granted. Thank you for sharing this.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you for this touching post.

    ReplyDelete
  4. What an awesome post! Gave me chills. Oh yes our military deserves our highest respect. The pictures are beautiful and very touching. The last one....melted my heart! Hugs and blessings, Cindy

    ReplyDelete
  5. Such wonderful words to honor our fallen soldiers. The little ones are just precious in their way of paying respect. So sad when so many have died serving our country. Being a mother, wife and daughter of a soldier I can say how hard it is on families when their loved ones are far away and the worry that comes along with their service. Thanks for posting.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Lovely dear Zuni, a wonderful post for honoring the heroes who have fallen. Yes, it's sad when thet die so young and leave a young family...so hard on the families. Thnk you for your generous words for our Sil, which he is already getting operated, as I write. Have a terrific weekend mi linda amiga.
    FABBY

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thank you for taking the time to research the funeral protocol and for the respect you give the military. My son is a Technical Sargeant in the Air Force; I'm blessed that he is not 'on the ground' in his duty but every day, he goes to work and gives his life in service; he has been in the miiitary for 10 years now. So many people do not recognize the freedoms we have in the US and I'm glad that you are using your blog as a platform to educate. Thank you!

    Tammy
    The Airman's Mom

    ReplyDelete
  8. Beautiful... and a wonderful lesson. Thank you for recognizing the sacrifice of those who have served and given their lives on our behalf. Thank you so very much!
    Liz

    ReplyDelete
  9. What an amazing post. Thank you for explaining the service. I never knew some of this and I have attended a veteran's funeral. It is a great sacrifice that should never be taken for granted. Thank you for joining me at Home Sweet Home! I have been following.:)
    Sherry

    ReplyDelete
  10. What a beautiful and moving post. Glad the youngsters are being well trained in honor and respect. Your screened porch looks so pretty! Hope you have loads of wonderful summer weather to enjoy there!

    ReplyDelete
  11. What a touching post. The last picture of your sweet grand daughter brought tears to my eyes. I honor those who have served also. My hubby served in Desert Storm, but luckily only went to Germany. Still it was hard to be home with our five children without him. I have the flag that was placed on my fathers grave. It is ever so precious to me. Thanks for sharing this with Share Your Cup. It's very touching. I love the pic of the little guy too!
    Hugs,
    Jann

    ReplyDelete
  12. Zuni, thanks for stopping to leave me a nice note at Quirky Vistas about my Rascal story. Hope you'll come by again and see what happens to the little guy. He may be ready to face the world again by later today. I just went through and read some more of your posts too. You have a great variety of interesting vignettes and projects. I'll be back.
    Liz

    ReplyDelete
  13. That is a very touching tribute to those who gave their lives.

    Thank you for your kind words on my blog.

    Take care,
    Carolyn

    ReplyDelete
  14. There is almost nothing more touching and sacred than the respects paid to fallen soldiers. I, for one, am grateful for the service rendered by the selfless men and women who have made the commitment to this country's freedom. Always so sad, so gut-wrenching. Thank you for sending out a reminder to all that Memorial Day is about more than just wienies on the grill. Soldiers put their lives on the line for "baseball, hotdogs, & Mom's apple pie", and all those "all-American" things we enjoy. Take care, and have a restful holiday weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  15. What a beautiful tribute you have put together. Thank you for the information as well as the respect you are passing on. This was a very beautiful post.

    ReplyDelete
  16. You have posted a really special tribute. We all should be so thankful for all the men and women who have served our country. It's so tragic at the amount of lives lost. Thank you for sharing this very special tribute.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I'm very thankful for all men that have fought for freedom and you have done a great tribute by not forgetting what this weekend is all about. Just a lovely post all around dear and pretty Zuni. Thank you on my part for your wonderful and kind wishes for our Sil..he is doing fine, they made him walk a little today, but he is in a lot of pain, dr. says it's quite normal after such intervention! He's going home Sunday. Victoria is very proud she has dishes for her, by us.. lol.
    We had sold the company by the time Cayetana was born, but I have enough at home for her and for Alexandra's children, when she has them. How is everyone at your home? Y tu linda mama, como estan?
    Thank you so much lovely friend and have a blessed holiday weekend.
    Luv ya,
    FABBY

    ReplyDelete
  18. This is such a beautiful and moving post. A fitting tribute to so many who have fought and sacrificed for our freedom. Thank you for sharing with us at Ivy and Elephants.
    Have a blessed weekend,
    Patti

    ReplyDelete
  19. Zuni, this is a wonderful post. Thank you for creating this beautiful tribute. We all need to be thankful of all who have given the ultimate sacrifice.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Zuni, Wonderful tribute to all the men and women who have given us our freedom. Thank you for sharing this inspiring post!

    Jody

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hi Zuni, just wanted to hop over and tell you that I will be featuring this touching post on Share Your Cup later today.
    Hugs,
    Jann

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hello Zuni,
    This is such a touching post - lovely honors given to this young man. We are so grateful our son-in-law returned unharmed - he did see terrible things however. I have great respect for those in the military and for their families. I appreciate you sharing this with us at Home and Garden Thursday,
    God Bless,
    Kathy

    ReplyDelete
  23. Zuni~ Such a moving post, thanks for sharing this wonderful tribute.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Zuni, this is a lovely tribute. Your photos are so beautiful. Dianne

    ReplyDelete
  25. I know I am late getting over to visit. We were out of town three of the last four weeks.
    Zuni, this is a beautiful and moving tirbute to that young man. So many lives changed forever with his passing.
    It is wonderful that you are teaching your little ones to respect and love our great country. So many of the younger generation have no idea the price paid for us to live with freedom.
    Congrats on the new one.
    Love to you and your family, Ginger

    ReplyDelete

Blogging tips