tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post1422315803813613251..comments2023-12-27T22:26:20.552-05:00Comments on synch-ro-ni-zing: Our cousin's military funeralRuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-9991147420479751732009-03-31T16:13:00.000-04:002009-03-31T16:13:00.000-04:00Have I been so long away, Ruth, that I totally mis...Have I been so long away, Ruth, that I totally missed this and had no idea of your loss?! I think Thomas Moore talks about our traditions (was it he?) or ceremonies and how important they are for giving life meaning. I'm glad you had this experience and could share it like this with us. Thank you.Ginnie Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14014434422568561157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-78860468366227538112009-03-24T15:26:00.000-04:002009-03-24T15:26:00.000-04:00Extending my deepest condolences for your lost. M...Extending my deepest condolences for your lost. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time.SE'LAH...https://www.blogger.com/profile/16108031333928082540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-61569850022812166572009-03-24T13:49:00.000-04:002009-03-24T13:49:00.000-04:00Ruth my condolences. Your photography is beautifu,...Ruth my condolences. Your photography is beautifu, good thing you did have the camera, it is always nice to remember sad and happy moments. Very nice tribute to your cousin. Thanks for sharing your story. Anna :)myonlyphotohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07324578791902437827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-66715744235171618302009-03-24T08:37:00.000-04:002009-03-24T08:37:00.000-04:00God bless you and your family Ruth. I am sending u...God bless you and your family Ruth. I am sending up prayers in hopes, my David will greet your David in heaven.<BR/><BR/>I love you, my dear friend.christinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15541888793748453425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-76173023810496892252009-03-24T07:16:00.000-04:002009-03-24T07:16:00.000-04:00Ruth, my condolences to the family.Being on the ot...Ruth, my condolences to the family.<BR/><BR/>Being on the other side of the globe, its quite amusing how we do different rituals to send our loved ones to their next destination. <BR/><BR/>This tribute was one of the best things you've done for David. I know he's all smiles at you all.Anton Daniel De la Cruzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09058149439820445711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-2520979688992597732009-03-24T03:20:00.000-04:002009-03-24T03:20:00.000-04:00I used to have a very bad image of the Marines aft...I used to have a very bad image of the Marines after seeing a movie "The brigg" may years ago.<BR/>May be I was wrong, nothing is completely white or black.<BR/>Hard post today.Daniel Chérouvrier https://www.blogger.com/profile/15287664408128972926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-76038503821666308562009-03-24T00:32:00.000-04:002009-03-24T00:32:00.000-04:00I am so sorry reading this, that is too young to g...I am so sorry reading this, that is too young to go. I enjoyed everything you wrote and will bookmark and watch the tribute later tomorrow.<BR/><BR/>My condolences to all of you.sandyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03307968128182359860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-82948455809055576722009-03-23T20:28:00.000-04:002009-03-23T20:28:00.000-04:00Very refined and wise in emotion, description and ...Very refined and wise in emotion, description and photo (movie) : respect.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-37612911088370239802009-03-23T12:24:00.000-04:002009-03-23T12:24:00.000-04:00Hey Ruth,Such a beautiful if sad piece. As a Brit,...Hey Ruth,<BR/>Such a beautiful if sad piece. As a Brit, I am rather envious of the relationship you have with your flag. I wish that more respect was shown to the Union Jack and those who have fought, died and even survived in the service of their country and these days cross-country, cross border campaigns. I have my own reservations about many recent conflicts, but the soldiers who fought and gave their lives were doing so on our behalf, even if we might not personally agree and it always fills me with sadness to see such sacrifices being denigrated (as has happened quite recently here in the UK).<BR/>My thoughts and condolences on your loss. I was brought up by a family with very strong military, naval and air force background; family members and extended family having fought and died in both world wars, The Troubles in Northern Ireland, Korea, The Falklands and more recently the Middle east conflict.<BR/>I think that your beautiful post serves is a great tribute to all who have recently died in situations of conflict in the service of their country.@ctors Businesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04118148558033452749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-3619336000128518142009-03-23T10:47:00.000-04:002009-03-23T10:47:00.000-04:00The Marines that presented at your cousins funeral...The Marines that presented at your cousins funeral are part of a special group. Yes, they train for the funeral ceremony. The Marines consider it a great honor to pay their respects to the "fallen soldier" and their family. <BR/><BR/>No, they don't need to know the soldier personally, or the family because when they become a Marine, they are all family.<BR/><BR/>You are very fortunate to have had a real person playing TAPS. Many military funerals now have gone to using a recording. Maybe because you are in a larger city?<BR/><BR/>My respects to your family.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-60933763193344247932009-03-23T10:38:00.000-04:002009-03-23T10:38:00.000-04:00Dear Ruth, thanks for this beautiful post. There's...Dear Ruth, thanks for this beautiful post. There's so much in there. And like many others it is so YOU in its sensitivity and thoughtfulness and honesty. You express your initial reservations but also a variety of feelings in a beautiful way. You're a wonderful soul Ruth.<BR/><BR/>(The relation Americans have to their flag is a most amazing one, I can't think of another country which relates to its flag in the same way.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-43564257840942582712009-03-23T08:43:00.000-04:002009-03-23T08:43:00.000-04:00No no, rauf, not rude or insensitive at all. Thank...No no, <B>rauf</B>, not rude or insensitive at all. Thank you.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-20902724783942447672009-03-23T08:05:00.000-04:002009-03-23T08:05:00.000-04:00Once again Ruth, i don't intend to be rude and ins...Once again Ruth, i don't intend to be rude and insensitive, i think there should be a few batches of marines who are trained for such events and they go about performing the same rituals at different funerals. <BR/><BR/>It is good for the family that you recorded the entire even Ruth.raufhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14069291890495563749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-58786916648194312952009-03-23T07:43:00.000-04:002009-03-23T07:43:00.000-04:00Amy, I'm quite certain David did not know the Mari...<B>Amy</B>, I'm quite certain David did not know the Marines who participated, based purely on their age. I was thinking about your question too, wondering how they are chosen for these events.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-34769986224644830532009-03-23T07:35:00.000-04:002009-03-23T07:35:00.000-04:00Ruth, my condolences for the family's loss. Your ...Ruth, my condolences for the family's loss. Your slide show is a beautiful tribute -- thank you for sharing those sacred moments. This is probably a stupid question: when it's a military funeral with a 21-gun salute and a myriad of dressed Marines, are the Marines present personal friends of the deceased or are they "dispatched" for such ceremonies? I don't mean to offend anyone with such a question -- I truly have no idea and I've always wondered! Much love, AmyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-74129096177602985922009-03-23T06:40:00.000-04:002009-03-23T06:40:00.000-04:00My consolations to the family!My thanks to you for...My consolations to the family!<BR/>My thanks to you for this post and to Rauf for his words, because I was a little confused because of that anonymous`s post.<BR/><BR/>Thank you Ruth also for your comment on my Aminus site.<BR/>I had very different models during my studying weekend :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-8938464547292891142009-03-23T06:02:00.000-04:002009-03-23T06:02:00.000-04:00Your text is so completely in line with what I wou...Your text is so completely in line with what I would expect from you! If I had been a US citizen, I think I would have the same feelings (including in your comments), but not knowing as well as you how to express them! The text, the photos, the video, the music...! Really touching and dignified at the same time! (I don't have tears in my eyes often and easily, but now it happened.)PeterParishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09694538476960957295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-85894349465051622592009-03-23T01:13:00.000-04:002009-03-23T01:13:00.000-04:00Ruth,I appreciate so much your willingness to shar...Ruth,<BR/><BR/>I appreciate so much your willingness to share such personal and poignant moments. Each of these deaths has been a personal grief and a sorrow to a family. It's important for them to be a grief and a sorrow for our nation, too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-26587849396693422702009-03-22T19:00:00.000-04:002009-03-22T19:00:00.000-04:00To you and yours,I extend my deepest sympathy. Tra...To you and yours,I extend my deepest sympathy. Tradition and rituals can help us through the dark days after we lose someone we love. Grief is a long and solitary process.It becomes a part of you, a condition you learn to live with. The photos will be a great comfort. <BR/><BR/>Ruth, my Forsythia are blooming. I brought them inside last week.cathyswatercolorshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03318863061595720021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-59608790392550722952009-03-22T15:46:00.000-04:002009-03-22T15:46:00.000-04:00My father had a wonderful military funeral two yea...My father had a wonderful military funeral two years ago. He was a Lt. Col. USAF, WWII. He was 97 but entitled to full military honors and my brother and I were very grateful because it was just what Dad wanted. It's a touching ceremony, very emotional. The full dress guard is wonderful to watch. We took photos as well but they were with a small camera and did not turn out as beautifully as yours. <BR/><BR/>Dad liked to play the harmonica when he put us to bed. When my boys were little, he'd play it for them too. He often played "Taps". Such a mournful tune.California Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12582691517303132274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-82168042714278166222009-03-22T14:36:00.000-04:002009-03-22T14:36:00.000-04:00Beautiful tribute Ruth, great slide show. I get g...Beautiful tribute Ruth, great slide show. I get goosebumps whenever I hear taps, I have played Taps before on the trumpet at special occasions and funerals.Bob Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06582050569176409358noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-26411029981469882272009-03-22T12:02:00.000-04:002009-03-22T12:02:00.000-04:00Your post is incredibly moving Ruth,it is difficul...Your post is incredibly moving Ruth,it is difficult to add anything more to the other comments they have said it all except that I wish to add my condolences to his famly.Delphinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02608268258366892659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-35934826755623824862009-03-22T10:38:00.000-04:002009-03-22T10:38:00.000-04:00A beautiful tribute Ruth...and I don't think you n...A beautiful tribute Ruth...and I don't think you need to say more...GailOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09556665956317683667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-77930802921200586882009-03-22T10:14:00.000-04:002009-03-22T10:14:00.000-04:00My high-school friend Jon, that was blown up by th...My high-school friend Jon, that was blown up by the Taliban? His was a full military funeral, even though he was a civilian working for a covert private contractor. It was a very eerie experience, just before Christmas 2006, I took a few pics but it all felt odd. Jon was on the front lines in Grenada, Panama, Bosnia, and Afghanistan, thought he was doing the right thing.Loring Wirbelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11764834150305763077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-67161952600173052252009-03-22T08:14:00.000-04:002009-03-22T08:14:00.000-04:00Interesting post. I'm very sorry for your loss.Interesting post. I'm very sorry for your loss.Helenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13523767203470842052noreply@blogger.com