Story of the visitation:

 

We had an undocumented PGRider among us.  Wende did a fine job of flag-holding and said he would go to the website to see what he had to do to sign up.  So, good.

 

 

That was just tongue-in-cheek, Wende.  Anyone who knows how to show respect is welcome in a PGR flagline.  No paperwork necessary.

 

His son Jim was also in our flagline.  He taught Joey to swim.

 

 

Joey’s Scoutmaster, Grant Barlow was another mentor to Joey.  Later he would eulogize Joey describing how fast Joey climbed the Boy Scout ranks.  Here Mr. Barlow wears his Order of the Arrow sash.

 

 

The Scouts performed a Broken Arrow ceremony for their deceased friend.

 

My grandson is a Cub Scout of Pack 42, Aptakisic District, Northeast Illinois Council.  Joey was a Boy Scout of Troop 672, Aptakisic District, Northeast Illinois Council.

 

So I was quite gratified that Ben of Troop 42 took a place at the end of our flagline.

 

 

He fit right in, next to the Ride Captain.

 

 

Al made a point of acknowledging Ben.

 

 

“You’re such a Boy Scout!”

 

 

Our Senior Ride Captain knows something about mentoring, too.

 

 

Pack 42 sent two Cub Scouts.

 

We always hold doors for girls.

 

 

But today we held doors for Rangers, too.

 

 

And other people.

 

 

And more other people.

 

 

And the doors were very big.

 

 

Thank you, Troop and Pack 42, for celebrating Joseph Dimock, who excelled as a Scout and then excelled as a soldier.  You made me proud.

 

Later in the evening, PGR leadership presented the parents with a plaque, a flag and a few other things.  I was there to photograph the event for the private use of the family.

 

When I was inside, I saw this:

 

 

This is the one photograph from inside the building I will publish.  It is grainy because of the low light and I didn’t want to use a flash.  It stood next to the sole exit – everyone saw it.  And for everyone, it was the last thought they were left with as they returned home:

 

 

 

Some People Dream the Dream

 

Some People Live the Dream

 

Some People Defend the Dream

 

God Bless the Defenders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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