Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Heartwrenching

I watched a motorcade escort Marine Lance Corporal John Farias' body from the New Braunfels airport to a local funeral home this morning.

Did I know this young man, this 20-year-old young man? No.
Via Herald-Zeitung

Did most of thousands of people who attended a memorial service for him last night know him? Doubtful.
Via KNBT

 Did the hundreds of people who took time out of their work day or busy summer to stand in the sweltering Texas sun know him? More than likely not.

What about all The Patriot Guard Riders who showed up to escort him home? Again, doubtful.

My office is in downtown New Braunfels, just off the Main Plaza where the motorcade was passing through. I heard about the happenings on the local radio station and my boss said he wanted to go to pay his respects, I tagged along. I am very glad I did. While waiting for the motorcade we stood in the shade under a tree but once it started we moved out into the street and the sun. Standing there in the hot Texas sun, with sweat dripping down my back, I got goosebumps watching the motorcade. It truly reaffirmed my faith in people seeing such a mixture of people come together to welcome someone they did not know back home. It was as if in that moment he was everyone's brother, son, best friend, husband, father, neighbor. This is one of the reasons I love this little-big town I live in.

Here is a video of the motorcade:
 

I am not one to get into talks of politics, religion or military pursuits but I feel that no matter your stand on the situation you should always support your servicemen and women, after all, you never know when you might need them to protect you and your family.

8 comments:

  1. I think it's wonderful that so many people turned out for the motorcade. A young man from my hometown was KIA a few years ago when I was teaching there. He was a few years behind me in school and I didn't know him but he was a part of the community that I grew up in and called home. We took the middle school kids outside for the motorcade and they were so respectful. I had tears in my eyes as did many of us there. All that to say...thanks for supporting our troops!

    I came by from Jenna's:)

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  2. Our freedom certainly isn't free is it? It's moments like these that really put that in perspective. May God continue to bless all of our service men and women. Thank for documenting this for us.

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  3. Heart breaking yet heart warming all at the same time...glad I stopped by from Jenna's challenge to read this post...

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  4. Thank you for this post! I'm stopping by from Jenna's challenge.

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  5. Stopping by from Jenna's. These moments really put into perspective how much is given for our freedom, and it's not free. It's a high price to pay for these families. But its good for the heart to see people from small town USA getting together to pay respects. Happy Wednesday!:)

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  6. Wow, what an awesome show of support! This gave me goosebumps. So sad but so neat to see everyone come together like this.

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  7. You are right, that is heartwrenching. Reminds me of how everyone had flags on their cars and were so supportive after 9/11, and then that stopped as well. So sad.

    Stopping by from Jenna's!

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  8. So a local policeman just got shot in Memphis in a domestic disturbance downtown. Our whole town has rallied around this sweet family, and I know that is probably how your town feels. It hurts to see these people give their lives for our freedom. It makes me so thankful for the Fourth of July. So sad! Stopped by from Jenna's...

    Leah
    casaconfident.blogspot.com

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