homecoming of a fallen soldier

i had seen a youtube video a while back on someone's blog. she pretty much guilted anyone who reads her blog to watch this video. she said something along the lines of "he gave his life to protect your way of life, so you can give him 10 minutes of yours to watch his funeral procession." if that doesn't work you don't really deserve to live in the land of the free. well, after watching that i decided i needed to take the boys to see when troops come home. i had asked a few people that i knew had spouses oversees how one would find out when they would come home. no one could tell me. and in all honesty, i didn't push it more than that. i know i'm sad and pathetic.

so a week ago a guy i went to high school with was killed in iraq. i had heard that they wanted people to line main street to honor him home. perfect opportunity to teach the boys a lesson in patriotism.

we made a sign, got some flags, and i pulled the boys out of school ready for his arrival.

the wind was blowing 700 miles an hour, which made for some awesome pictures because all the flags were flowing so beautifully. i thought of complaining about how the dirt was killing my eyes, but really did i have any reason to complain? he gave his life and so many before him so i could be standing there.

these two guys just happen to be standing by us. i told payton to get in front of him for a picture. afterwards i told him "i used you for a cool picture."

his friend said "i'll give you a good picture of your kids." so of course i jumped on it. i didn't check so the one of tayte my focus was on the flag, still kinda cool. and baylee's friend sean wanted in on the action. they are members of the iron soldiers, they go to homecomings of fallen soldiers to honor them. see how awesome the flags look because of the wind.

it made me kinda sad that there weren't more people there. i don't know if because i had watched that video where they had gone over several counties and thousands of people had stopped to show respect. i wonder if my generation doesn't get it like past generations. if you compare the war now to any past war: vietnam, WWI, WWII, the civil war. i don't think we are affected like they were. there have been people die in this one and everyone is just as important as another, but i guess since there have not been as many we are oblivious to it. esau is the first person that i have personally known to die in war. i was talking to a lady the other day and she knew several people in her class alone that had died. i admit to never once think about the troops for days at a time. i hope i change this. i hope by taking my kids downtown that day that they learned something. i did feel better when i heard that highland park took all the kids out of school and had them line highway 60. and people from pantex lined highway 60 outside the plant.

the motorcycles were really cool.

the colorguard waiting.

i talked to baylee about what this all meant. how he was able to play the video games he wanted. to look online searching for an answer and not have to "learn" what his president told him was "truth." that he could wear what he wanted, say whatever he thought, and do what he chooses. i hope he understands. i am sure we will revisit this subject again. at first i wanted to shelter him and not let him think that people my age could die. i wanted him to live a kid's denial that nothing can happen to his parents. but, my desire to teach him respect and honor for a fallen soldier won out. i am glad it did because it is a leason i think he needs to understand.

i hope you never get this opportunity, but if you do it is your american duty to do this. honor this soldier, because without them you wouldn't get to do the things you love most.

tara