Over the past ten years, I’ve been blessed to be called upon to participate and capture the final honors of many of those who have served the United States of America in military service. Most of those have been at Arlington National Cemetery, with several, (expenses paid … thank you!) in Kentucky, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Tennessee. All of the honors ceremonies have been absolutely splendid – a fitting tribute to one who has devoted his/her life to maintain the freedoms we enjoy in the United States.
The men & women who execute these final honors are true professionals and perform their part without a flaw since they practice and practice and practice until it is just right. (Over the years, I’ve observed many drill sessions of various parts of the honors ceremonies.) Recently, for the first time in all these years, I witnessed something that’s very rare… extremely rare…
Where Valor Rests: Arlington National Cemetery
The Re-folding of the US Colors …
It seems that if the first fold is not perfect, the remaining folds are going to be just a tad bit off. I watched as the folds continued and at the completion, the soldier struggled to get the end tucked inside to show a field of white stars on blue. I sensed there was something awry as the soldiers passed the folded colors up the rank to the officer. Presented with it, he held it for a brief time but refused to take it from the soldier. The officer then removed his hands, and the soldier returned to begin unfolding the flag. As the folds once again revealed the red and white stripes, the soldiers once again folded ever so carefully, and that “last tuck” wasn’t so hard this time.
When presented this time with the folded colors, the officer accepted the field of stars on blue…
And when he presented it to the next-of-kin, it was Perfect…
OMAHA STEAKS
