We moved in procession from the church to the cemetery. The fellow in the blue shirt brought a flag and stood alone on the sidewalk.

The two in the front brought a flag. The three in the back were getting gas.

I don’t now about her. She didn’t bring a flag but she did cover her heart. Maybe she came for Kevin or maybe she is just saluting the passing flags.

I love the simplicity of this image and the simple story it tells.

She was driving when she saw flashing lights in her mirror. She moved her car to the right should and waited. The emergency vehicles were followed by a long column of motorcycles flying flags. Most people would continue to sit in their cars.

She got out. She put her hand over her heart. I was one of the last bikes before the hearse. From the direction she is looking, I know that she is still wondering what the spectacle is all about.

A second later she would see the hearse. From what I think I know about her, she kept her hand over her heart.

Other firemen.

This was not a Patriot Guard mission and I didn’t see any PGR ride captains before we reach Euclid and Roosevelt. Let history record that Tricia was there for Kevin.

There were eight or ten flag holders at the entrance to the cemetery. I had seen it before and was expecting it and wasn’t surprised by it. But I remember the first time I saw such a display. It was at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery and it made a great impression. I remember the impression.

And we should remember that the family and guests have not seen a dozen (or a hundred) KIA funerals like some of us have. It is all new to them. And the impression we made will be remembered as long as they live.

Inside the cemetery spaced at intervals down the long lanes we passed others.

I parked and moved quickly to the hearse. There would be only a short time to capture the moment before the guests walked over.

The Honor Guard was standing in position behind the hearse, waiting.

We formed two parallel lines facing each other, defining a wide corridor from the hearse to the gravesite.

Dirk and a few others formed a third side connecting the two lines just beyond the gravesite.

The LtCol and the SgtMaj were waiting in the middle of the football field sized space.

I moved to the detail of rifles.

A Captain walked by. Kevin’s Company Commander, I imagine.

The Marines carried Kevin to his grave. The guests moved in. We re-formed.

The firemen fell in on our flank.

I stayed with the rifles.

There we stood.

On cue, the three volleys were fired. Then the squad leader found three spent cases in the grass.

He delivered them to the flag-folders.

According to Major Robert A. Lynn, USMCR, the three spent cartridge cases are symbolic. During a lull in battle, both sides would fire three volleys each and then would remove their dead from the field of battle.

The three cases would be folded into the casket flag which would then be presented with the message: "On behalf of the President of the United States, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, and a grateful nation, please accept this flag as a symbol of our appreciation for your loved one's service to Country and Corps."

And then they found the other 18 cases.

At last, we were the only ones left.

And then we left too.

Thank you, Kevin, for your fine service.

And thank you, Mr. & Mrs. Oratowski, for inviting us.

back to the Oratowski Mission

back to ALL MISSIONS