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Post by George Armstrong Custer on May 17, 2006 4:30:45 GMT -6
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Post by Diane Merkel on May 17, 2006 7:02:07 GMT -6
Interesting. I guess that's better than a tape recorder sitting next to the casket.
My father was a career Navy officer who died in 1990 in San Antonio, an Army town. They were able to scrounge up some Navy reservists to fold the flag. It was apparent that it was the first time they had performed that ceremony, but we appreciated their efforts. We were told that a bugler was not available and were offered a tape recording instead, but we chose to hire a civilian man to play Taps. It was well worth the $50.
The nurses at the Fort Sam Houston hospital were wonderful to my father throughout his illness. They were truly saints doing what has to be the most difficult work on the planet. My father served this country for 35 years through three wars, but the Department of Defense didn't give him 35 minutes worth of respect at his funeral. That still hurts.
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Post by elisabeth on May 17, 2006 7:41:56 GMT -6
That's sad. You must be so glad you got the bugler.
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Post by stevewilk on May 17, 2006 8:07:39 GMT -6
Diane, San Antonio an "army" town?? You never noticed the sky blue shirts all over the city? Kelly, Brooks, Randolph, Lackland. That's Air Force!  |
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Post by crzhrs on May 17, 2006 11:20:13 GMT -6
Diane:
I spent 6 weeks at Lackland Air Force during basic training . . . never in my life had I seen such hot weather, and the thunderstorms were frightening, rain coming down sideways and thunder almost on top of you!
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Post by Diane Merkel on May 17, 2006 11:45:03 GMT -6
Steve, I've only been to San Antonio that one time when I was called to my father's death bed. I guess the only parts of it I saw were Army. I was in a bit of a daze. I live in an Air Force area now and, if you can't have Navy Blue, Sky Blue is the next best thing!
Crazy, I remember walking through the Alamo and along Riverwalk (it stunk!). I was there in March and the humidity was the worst I've ever experienced. Perhaps my perceptions were tainted by the circumstances, but it was not my favorite city. On my way back from the battlefield this June via a side trip to Las Vegas, I'm going to drive my mom to San Antonio so she can see my dad's grave for the first time (they were divorced). I hope to enjoy the city a bit more this time. Thanks for your service to our country!
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Post by crzhrs on May 17, 2006 12:22:58 GMT -6
Diane:
During a weekend off . . . we went to San Antone. I believe at the time they were having some major event (World Fair?) and we enjoyed that. We also went to the Alamo. I was surprised that it is right in the center of town. The walls were about chest high (don't know what they were like during the actual battle) and there were many artifacts in the museum. I enjoyed my time there (can't same the same for basic training!)
I wish I could have spent more time exploring the Texas country side and getting a better idea of Texas other than just a city . . . which in the end, a city is a city is a city!
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