Saying goodbye....

No, not me.  I'm still hanging around here.  This is the story of a funeral.  No ordinary funeral, and as sad as a funeral sounds, a funeral service built around decades of tradition and pomp.  This is the story of a policeman's funeral.  I was both honored and saddened by the whole process, from riding as part of the procession (which I was later scolded for, and perhaps, rightly so), to the horseless rider to the twenty-one gun salute, to the missing man fly-over.

Standing in the presence of so many law enforcement officials and firemen and first respsonders and military men and women was, for lack of a more reverent word, awesome.  Awesome and humbling.  It is while being in their collective presence that I felt the Brotherhood of the Badge at it's finest.  In the midst of saying final goodbyes to a fallen officer, they stood strong and proud...and together. 

Even though a friend and commrade was being mourned, protocols must still be followed.  Rituals must be observed.  Salutes shall be given.  It is not cold-hearted nor indifferent.  It is a way of greiving.  A way to honor tradition and to honor a man. 

As I sat in the church and listened to one after another speak eloquently on the life and death of a fellow officer, a son, a brother, a cousin, a co-worker, a friend...tears streamed down my face, punctuated by occasional smiles and even laughter.  There was a lot of tissue dabbing among the very large crowd.  There was no shame in crying, as we were all doing it...even the speakers.

It was at the graveside service that the finality of this event played out, as you stood there listening to his partner (he was a K9 officer) saying goodbye.  As the Riderless Horse paraded by (made even more touching as I was standing by the mounted officers on their mounts).  As military honors were given.  As the flag was folded and presented to his parents.  As the 21 gun salute happened...funny how you flinch just ever so slightly even though you know it's coming.  As the bugler plays Taps.  And then the low rumble of helicopters is heard, as they approach you head-on, and the Police helicopter flies off in a missing man formation.   Tears.  Tears.  Tears.

Rest in Peace, Officer, and thank you for your presence in the lives of your family, friends and community.  And thank you, to the men and women of law enforcement that let me and so many others in the community, be a part of, even for a day, of YOUR family.  Thank you.