buried ma and dad yesterday

[Lloyd Smale]

Dad died late nov and ma first of feb. It was nicer service then ive ever been at.Tons of people there. Dad was a korean war navy vet and was active in the vfw and legion right till the end. usually they have an honor guard comprised of both togther but both sent there whole honor guard. Along with that the local police all showed up in there uniforms and the vfw had gotten ahold of the navy and they sent two navy chiefs in dress whites to present me the flag. One drove over 4 hours to be there. Then the senior chief in charge of the local coast guards station that i know very well showed up in his dress blues and stood with the two navy chiefs to give me the flag.  Dad was in the udt's and had a number of medals including the purple heart and the CG chief read the letter dad got when he recieved it. The Navy and CG being there was a suprise to everyone including me. The guys at the vfw arranged it all. When he died he was the oldest member in there chapter and still was active in it . Even his priest said hes never seen that many uniforms in any funeral hes done. Ma was a teacher and did lots of tutoring for kids for free after she retired and a ton of people came to pay respects to her two. When dad died they were 4 days away from there 70th aniversary. Another cool thing is they were both cremated and my learning disabled son made a box for them years ago and wood burned the Lords prayer and some pictures of deer hunting on it. It to most would have been a bit crude and homely with many misspelled words but my dad told everyone thats what he wanted his ashes buried in and after he died ma did too. My son was there and he was prouder then a peacock. I know most of you probably dont believe in this but the priest puts holy water on the box or coffin after its laying i the ground and he had my son come up and hold the wand or whatever you call it with him when he did it. There wasnt a dry eye in the crowd including mine. Even the priest was choking on his words because he was not only there priest but a good friend too. He came over for supper every Saturday night like clockwork for over 10 years. He said other then his own family this was the first time he ever broke down at a funeral. It was pretty special. They were husband and wife but also were best friends there whole lives and to be buried together in the same box and the  same ceremony was something special. Couldnt have imagined a better send off for them.

[Land_Owner]

I feel you lloyd.  Not much "dry eye" here either.  May God rest their eternal souls. 

To the departed, your son is a Good Man and a friend, whom we shall console in his losses.

[gene_225]

Praying for you and your family. We are getting ready to do my sister-in-law's funeral. She died of cancer and COVID after an 18 month battle. Family is never easy when laying them to rest.

[Dee]

God bless you and your family Lloyd.

[JeffG]

Prayers said for you and your family, Lloyd.

[BUGEYE]

Prayers sent , it’s rough when you lose your parents.

[Casull]

God bless.  That sounds like a beautiful service.

[ironglow]

Sounds like a fitting send off for an old sailor! ..And surely your Mom had many former students to pay their respects..
   Upon retiring, Gen MacArthur said, "old soldiers never die..they just fade away".   The same seems true for old sailors..

 A few years ago, I buried my older brother, who also served as a sailor in the Korean war.  He served aboard th eIowa class battleship, the USS New Jersey.
  Their basic job was to offer fire support for the Army and Marines..  On at least one occasion, they bombarded Wonson, NK for 24 hours.
  I can't feature being in the same ship  with all that firing..even though they were the largest battleships of the US Navy.  ..Plus, he was a gunner's mate in the aft 16" turret..

  Sailors earned their applause too !


 .

[Bob Riebe]

Godspeed Lloyd; for them no more misery, tell Jesus to say hi to them every now and then as I do.

[nw_hunter]

If ever a Son had parents to be proud of, you are at the top of that list. A sad event, but one I'm sure you are proudest of. To have that many people show their respect for two people they have known or known of is beyond words. God Bless you and your Family LLoyd! No doubt Heaven shined even brighter when it received your Mom and Dad.

[mcbammer]

  Take comfort you will see them again ,for we all are just passing thru .

[oldandslow]

You have my sympathies for you losses, Lloyd. It will get easier as time passes.