21 gun salute & taps

The memorial service for Dad was good and terrible. Unreal and crazy real. A nightmare and reality. All at the same time it made everything so final and at the same time I kept expecting Dad to walk up to me as well and start visiting during the whole event. Taps makes me cry even on a good day and the haunting lilting tune echoing back to me from those trees being played because my Dad is the one who is no gone was powerful. The 21 gun salute was impressive and loud. But watching those honor guard soldiers in thier dress blues paying thier deep respect for a man they never knew but were there to honor was power personified. Young vibrant men there to honor. What a blessing to be a participant in this tradition. They crisply folded our flag and presented it to Mom. Then gave the 21 casings from the 21 gun salute as a keepsake of the honor of that day. Impactive! Thank you to so many who came that day to share our joy and pain. Our hope and our tears. Our loss and sadness but also the knowing that it is well with our souls.