WOW! I READ THIS BULLETIN AND WAS MOVED TO TEARS.....AS WRITTEN BY BRENNANS UNCLE FLAMEWALKER.....
Yesterday was one of the hardest days that a family has to endure...
There is no time right for burying a loved one..there is no good way...
Last night on the way home Julie and I tried to come up with just a short way to describe it...and we came up with "inexplicably overwhelming"..and "breathtaking"....and even that is not good enough to describe the feelings..the deep emotions..the pride and the tears.
I found myself actually holding my breath at moments..so as not to weep out loud.
Many of you are asking if the protestors showed...If they did...the family did not see them..we were assured by the police that their "event"..would be no event....The Patriot Guard showed up in full force...we saw "snipers" dressed in black....They weren't "hiding"...We guessed that they wanted there presence known...I suppose if we "saw" some...there were many others we couldn't see. The FBI was there...nd more police than I have seen in one spot in this area! The Patriots gun their engines if there is any protesting or
shouting...and they line the whole side of the road holding giant flags out over signs...so that if there was anything behind them..all we could see is flags....
We got the whole story on what happend to Brennan..and it was not pretty...He had to be creamated...as there were only pieces of him left. I am sorry if that is too graphic for you..but it is what the family dealt with...It is the truth about what those soldiers have to deal with.
Brennan's squad leader attended...He was seated with Brennan's Mom and Dad...Our hearts went out to him... He is now family. He dealt with losing all of his guys..he too was injured badly...He saw Brennan blown to pieces..and one of the other guys was on fire...he tried, even being injured himself to "put out the fire"..until he realized to his horror..that he could see clear through the guys chest. He had no option at that time...but to get out of the fire..to just save himself. As a family, and as individuals..we all held him as he cried...and we cried with him..telling him over and over...that he is family now..that we know it is NOT his fault.
Brennan's sister spoke very eloquently...She said that her brother is NOT a fallen soldier...Brennan did such a great job of protecting us here and defending people in other countries...that he got PROMOTED..to a RISEN soldier..to protect us from a higher level.
While she was speaking the tripod holding Brennan's picture (the one all of you used so sweetly in honor of him) started to fail...one of the legs was slipping and coming undone...it made his picture shake..and his sister said.."That's Brennan..saying hi..and rolling his eyes at all of us for being so serious!" He loved to laugh and have a good time...There were many Army officials there..a couple of generals even..and as the picture fell tow soldiers ran up and grabbed it...then put the tripod aside...one of the generals...came up...took the picture from the guys..and stood there...at attention..holding Brennans picture for the rest of the ceremony..and a tear rolled down his cheek too...Another overwhelming moment.
Brennan's sister said..good to see the Army still has my brother's back...He took good care of the Army..he was a great soldier,now...this great country of ours..needs to take good care of his wife..and little baby. Everyone, including all the soldiers in the room were in tears..
Army officials spoke...miisters..even the Governor of our state.
The funeral prosession was amazing..very punctual..very precise..we even joked about how "Dang isn't this just like military precision" Like a bunch of Drill Seargents...LOL
Little did we know..of the enormity of the project that lay ahead...we did not know the whole plan...We have all been in funeral procesions before..the motorcade keeps you all together..in line etc.
Brennan was going to the National Cemetary..we knew that..we knew we would have to endure..taps..21 gun salute...bagpipes playing Amazing Grace..Brennan had made that known that "if anything happened to him..he loved that song..and he loved bagpipes. We knew there would be the presentation of medals and the flag to his wife...
"The security guys said.." At 1:45 we want all of you in your cars...and we will line you up by 1:50. Ay 1:55 we will be putting brennan back into the hearse..and exactly 2:00 we will be pulling ut of the parking lot. Again..prcise..and precision like it happened exactly as they said it would..very formal..soldiers line up saluting as they took Brennan's ashes out of the church..and...EXACTLY at 2:00 pm..we we leaving the parking lot. with dozens of Patriot Guard motocycles leading with giant flags on the back of their bikes..and police vehicles..all lining the way...joining in the front and then some in the back of the motorcade. That alone was an overwhelming site to see...But to our astonishment..it was not only the motorcade that directed traffic for the procession...EVERY police department along the way was involved...had EVERY intersection was already, blocked as we came through...with police cars all lined up...lights falshing and officers standing at attention as we drove by. In some areas, where there were not enough police cars...they had fire engines blocking even exits from store parking lots. They made sure tha there was no traffic in the way at all...It felt surreal...people stared..some had flags and saluted..some were just in awe..some had no clue..what the heck was going on!
Some of the reason for the precison in the timing was becoming clear...coordinating all of the police in several different towns along the way.
We had to take the intestate highway for about 30 miles to get to the cemetary...this, we thought would be a challenge...all the traffic this time of day. As we came up the on ramp..what we saw literally made us gasp...and tear up...For Brennan...the State department of transportaion had CLOSED the interstate! They had dozens of trucks with flags..and light flashing..lined up..blocking traffic as far back as we could see...
Brennan's procession went...center lane...all the the way...without another single car on the road....every on ramp, again...blocked by the police from that town...every over pass..blocked...and flags at various businesses along the way at half staff. It was hard to breathe...
As we arrived at the cemetary...I think every patriot guard around was lined up on each side of the roadway holding a flag..we drove through a tunnel of flags...
And, then ...the ceremony at the cemetary..the presentation of the medals..brennan's wife..putting them in his 2 month old son's cradle...try not to cry seeing THAT one! 21 guns..taps..and trying to breathe...even the Officer.shouting out the orders for each medal as it was presented..had a difficult time..his voice cracked...and the soldiers standing guard on the side had tears streaming down their cheeks...
Seeing his Mom and Dad..brothers and sisters...trying to hold it together..and having moments of losing it...and Pierce...Brennan's brother in arms...weeping...It was truely and experience that was prideful...heartwarming and awful all at the same time. It was incredible and horrible and wonderful..the support and the gratitude shown by citizens...I used every nerve ending in my body...today every muscle is sore from the stress and the tension..it was overwhelming and I hope I never have to do it again.
(repost of
original by '
Flamewalker' on '2006-12-28 12:59:03')
(repost of
original by '
usdrill' on '2006-12-28 13:08:53')
