Wednesday, 11 November 2009

  • Present Arms!

    Present Arms

    I guessed we were late. We were in the car right behind the family of the fallen though. Maybe I just did not understand the protocol. We were walking to the grave sight. I had Mrs. Hat’s hand in my right and my left arm around the only sister of a fallen hero. Her brother, in his Marine Dress Blues was already by the grave, He had ridden with the casket. We were walking down the little dirt road that goes through the cemetery. We were close to the big black Tennessee walker horse. He had boots reversed in the stirrups and was dancing and restive.

    We had passed miles of flashing lights along the way from the chapel. Police and fire and rescue vehicles paying silent homage to a fallen hero. There were uniforms of every description in all directions. I was one of the few in a black suit. I was not the only one in a cowboy hat. Not by a long ways. There were dozens of Texas State Troopers there. They still wear cowboy hats to work, too.

    We were all heading from different directions to the little faded green awning that would shelter the family at the grave sight. Then some man with lungs of brass yelled loudly and with awesome authority into the stillness and grief.

    ATTENTION!!

    Every single one of us froze in place. We stood tall and straight and stared in the man’s direction.

    Waiting.

    Frozen.

    He bellowed again.

    PRESENT…ARMS!!

    Those bearing weapons slowly and solemnly gave the military salute. The few of us who were unarmed and bearing only our grief slowly saluted with our right hand over our heart.

    The coffin was then carried slowly, reverently toward the grave.

    We all stood there at attention, paying final honors to a fallen hero.

    Presenting arms.

    That was when the bagpipes began. Two bagpipers, in full kilt, had been standing unnoticed on the far side of the simple country cemetery. From anywhere you were standing in that place, if you looked to the west, you could see that big black horse with the boots reversed in the stirrups and beyond him the two bagpipers, facing each other, playing Amazing Grace.

    We all of us stood there in silence. Many of us weeping.

    Presenting Arms.

    Truly freedom is not free. The cost is at times almost unbearable.

    Honor a veteran this day.

    PRESENT…ARMS!!

    Old Hat

    Currently
    Uncommon Valor [CD on Demand]
    By United States Marine Band
    see related

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