Kevin (grandson) is busy
with kindergarten so I would be traveling to
I dropped my gear at the Americinn and was among the first to arrive at the funeral
home – but not before Kevin Loecher had a line of
flags along the street, so it was easy to find.
When the bold display of red, white and blue came into view I had to
smile. I knew that every arriving PGRider would feel a reaffirmed commitment to mission as he
rolled into the parking lot and that the passing cars would honk throughout the
afternoon and evening.
Certainly passing cars and
the mourners entering the building could ignore the flags. We all move past many flags each day without
being moved to emotion. It is the fact
that individuals are standing with the flags, making an endorsement with their bodies, that makes the powerful statement. Conversely, a group of people standing
respectfully without flags is ambiguous.
Kevin’s bold display and the American patriots who would stand alongside
combine to communicate our message of honor for the soldier and respect for her
values.
So it was fitting that we
began with the Pledge of Allegiance. (I
was using a long lens and got neither the entire width of our group nor the
entire height of the flagpole.) It is a
pledge my grandson learned early in school, as did most of us. In a world that is often dangerous and cruel
beyond our borders, it is an affirmation of loyalty to “the republic for which
(our flag) stands” and the culture of the republic, including “liberty and
justice for all.”
It is a simple
statement. It says that we know which
side we are on.
In wartime, moral clarity
is essential. We know which side we are
on.
There is nothing exclusive
about the Patriot Guard. You are a
Republican, or a Packer fan, or a PGRider simply
because you say you are. Being a veteran
is different. A non-vet can say he is a
patriot, but only the vet has proven it.
I haven’t proven it and I am thrilled to stand as an apparent equal with
men like Don Moss.
At least I think it was
Don. Could be
JW was certainly the icon
of moral clarity. He knew who the bad
guys were and he knew which side he was on.
If you are about to attempt something that is difficult and dangerous,
you want a JW figure to stand with you and reassure you that you are doing the
right thing.
Rachael had that in her
CSM, Command Sergeant Major
I am sometimes asked “what
I did” and reply that I was in college until 1973. Most people who would ask would know that
He didn’t mean anything by
it, but in that moment I knew that, of the two of us, it was his life that had
served the cause of liberty and justice for all, and not mine.
Brigadier General Robert Hipwell was Rachael’s commander. Like Don and
He had enlisted and fought
with the 75th Ranger Regiment in
Plus, he has five soldier-sons: Philip, Mathew, Tim, Adam and David. God bless you, General.
This group held many
exceptional individuals. We had all
gathered for Rachael: Patriot Guard,
U.S. Army, veterans. It was no
disrespect to Rachel that we were glad to meet each other.
Dennis and Joyce Jansen are
among the
And some gave all. Greg was there. His hat was hanging from a flagpole. There was no particular attention focused on
it – as we say, it’s not about us. He
was not a veteran but his nephew, Timothy Noble Bowman, served in
And more: Four days after Rachael’s funeral, Greg’s brother
Jeff was one of the 61 bikes that would escort PGRider
Ron Harris to his final resting place.
On his way home, Jeff would be struck by a vehicle. At this writing (the next day) he is said to
be in “grave condition”. I imagine our
friends at Westboro will have some comment.
I was standing in the flagline facing the flagpole that holds Greg’s hat when I
saw Jeff DeVries walking near it. As he approached, he pulled his own hat off
his head. After he passed, he pushed it
back on his head. He never dared to look
over at Greg’s.
~~~
The next morning I had
Raisin Bran in the hotel’s breakfast area and went outside to see the weather,
the bikes and the people. SFC Davidson
told us that she had considered naming her son Harley.
Robin and I climbed to the
top of the tower at Holy Hill last year on October 9th. From that record, I know that the foliage was
much more colorful then than it is this year in late October. Still, some color has presented. We arrived at Immaculate Heart of Mary.
State Captain Curran was
the Ride Captain. I hope we didn’t
scratch-up
Kevin got out his big
flag.
I had mine
out too.
The pallbearers lined up
at on the sidewalk south of the place the hearse would stop.
Master Sergeant Devine
positioned himself north of that place.
Then Rachael arrived and
they carried her inside. We stood for
the other arrivals. When the service
began, we waited under the colorful autumn display.
We assembled for another
briefing and then reassembled in front of the church. Then we would ride the short way to the
cemetery.
It seems that every
mission has moments that are especially meaningful for me. They are not the same for others and I can’t
anticipate them. This time it was when
Rachael was carried to the hearse.
I never even saw the
casket. I was standing across the street
from the church. This was not a time for
photos but I didn’t have a flag, so I simply stood in line with other PGRiders. The
bagpiper marched directly toward me.
Then he turned his back to me. He
was playing and marching all the while.
Now he was playing as he marched in place.
Then he stopped marching
but continued playing for a time. He was
wearing the full dress with a kilt and a dagger in his sock. Then he started marching in place again. And then he turned and marched away. He never stopped playing. I had seen it all before. I don’t know why it was a big deal this time,
but I
wasn’t the only one who felt that way.
At the cemetery we formed
a Circle of Comfort and stood silently.
General Hipwell got down on one knee to
present the parents with the casket flag.
CSM Vacho called a role. Each soldier responded, “Present, Sergeant
Major!”
When he got to Hugo there
was no response. He called for Rachael
Hugo. Still nothing.
“Corporal
Rachael L. Hugo?!”
Silence.
Governor Jim Doyle and
Attorney General J.B. VanHollen were there. 88 bikes from four states were there.
15 white doves were there.
And then it was over and
we left.
The threat of rain had
never materialized either day and there was more color at the cemetery than
just our flags.
And Rachael’s place of
final rest became quiet except for a few members of the family who were
reluctant to leave. It is all right that
they remained and it is all right that the rest of us left. Especially the soldiers. It is a sad duty for them and they cannot be
faulted for moving out when their duty is done.
The family stood nearby
Rachael and talked. The guests had
gone. The Governor and Attorney General
had gone. The bikes and doves had
gone. The only sounds were the soft
talking of the family and the wind through the leaves.
But the Army had not gone. MSG Devine
had the pallbearers and the firing squad facing each other across the lane that
the family would use to leave. I waited
for a while, but then I left too. The
family was still talking at Rachael’s grave and the soldiers were still
standing at attention, silently waiting.
Five
albums:
pictures
from the Tuesday visitation
Wednesday pictures –
before the service
Wednesday pictures –
during and after