A FUNERAL
Today Iraq came into our lives with the burial of a friend
He was my age and a Marine of 20 years time.
Many battles in many places he had fought before,
And from all of those he came home each time
He was known quite well by my husband and brothers-in-laws
He was in a Hummer, one with no armor on the sides
He had stopped so that a mother with her children could cross
His concern that they safely cross the road
The insurgents had placed a remote detonated IED
They knew that a Marine would stop to allow women and children to cross
They waited all day for just the right moment to kill
As the Marine watched for the safety of the woman and children
The Insurgents knew then that they had found the right moment
The right moment in time to kill again another U.S. Marine
The blast turned the hummer over and wounded all four Marines
The gunfire from the nearby buildings only added to their pain
Wounded and losing his life's blood, he found his weapon
He found his weapon and began shooting back at the enemy
He continued to fire until his men were rescued and away
When his company came to get him, he was dead
His spirit had gone home with the Angi sent by his God
Only his mortal remains were left to this earth and his family
His family asked that he rest at Rainbow Park instead of
Instead of the Los Angeles National Cemetery where so many others lay
He had left word that even in death he wanted to guard and protect
To guard the spirits and mortal remains of the unwanted who but...
But for her would be buried in a mass potter's grave with no one
With no one to know them or to love them or remember them
He knew the reason for Rainbow Park and the one who gave it life
He knew how such a place came to be and he knew that it also included...
Included those who had served before but could not come all the way home
And those lost women and children whom no one wanted except her.
He had asked before her death if he could continue to serve as he did in
life, to protect those cast aside and whose spirits were stolen and crushed
She gave him what he was seeking, a place when his time here was over
A place where he could continue the guard and protect the unwanted who rested there
A flag draped coffin, a picture of him from last year, and a Navy Cross
These were all that remained to show of his life
A Marine Honor Guard from Dawn until Dusk and from Dusk until Dawn
His family shattered and their hearts broken and spirits crushed
My husband, the eulogy gave; he who holds my life in his heart
He was dressed in his Dress Blues with jump boots and his Beret
As he spoke of his friend I could see a single tear escape and fall to his cheek
I felt again the terror that she who was my sister in spirit if not in blood felt
I knew how she prayed for the return of her own husband and of her Tio
Her husband, like mine and his brother who fought in that war ten years and more ago
I thought of her Tio and how he fought for 40 years and more
I remember when the Great Grey Wolf and the Walking Sparrow went to war
I remember how I prayed that he who is called Two Bears would not be called
I remember how terrified I was that he would go and not come home again
How she prayed for them to return safely to her heart and home as did I
So many things going thru my mind, I could see the heartbreak in this quiet place
His brother spoke of their lives as children, I saw a man hardened by war
Hardened by war and the loss of his brother; he wore the colors of a Sky Soldier
The services now over, it was time to take him home to his eternal rest
The Honor Guard ready as commands are quietly given, the coffin lifted...
Lifted with care and respect for one of their own who has gone ahead
I see battle hardened Marines and Sky Soldiers who wear funny hats
They carry the mortal remains of their brother in their hands, hearts hardened,
And with eyes of steel the carry him to the long black hearse
It is not far to where he will rest, only five or six miles over the roads
The procession slowly moves thru the crowded city streets
People stop and stare and I can see the tears in the eyes of the women
And the hand salute given by the men as a soldier is carried home
He arrives at Rainbow Park and they are waiting for him to lay him to rest
He is carried to his final rest and his brothers stand at attention
More words are spoken of this Marine, This Marine who gave his life
So that his men would live; Marines who knew him and fought with him
The words are over and only silence is now heard as though we are waiting...
Waiting for what? The honor guard quietly begins to fold the flag
The flag is folded so tight, with the click of heels and the muted sound;
The muted sound of precision footsteps on thick grass.
As the flag is given to his mother, she fights back the tears
of a broken heart, we hear a deep voice tell her...
"With the thanks of a grateful nation..." How she fought the tears to no avail
She had given one son and her other was going bad again to that horrible war
Soft commands are given as, off to the side, a salute of rifle fire is given
Rifles in the hands of seven Marines, once, twice, three times they fire
As the rifle fire fades away into the day, I hear a lone bugle start to sing
I look to see where the bugler is who plays this heartbreaking song
Looking into the sun as it rides low on the horizon, I see him standing
He is standing at full attention as he sends his brother home
The sound of Taps drifts across this quiet place and as the notes reach me
I began to cry, Crying for the loss of a friend and because I know that instead...
Instead of my friend, it could be my husband or my Tio whose life has ended
Thru my tears and breaking heart, I recognize he who sends this mournful song
It is Tio, The Great Grey Wolf who has fought for forty years and more
He who is battle hardened and wise in the ways of War, he sends this Marine Home
I look around me and I see that tears are falling from everyone here
I look towards the coffin and I see two little girls so alike as to be one
Each presses their tiny hands to their lips, they place their fingertips to their lips
They touch the cold steel of the coffin with their fingertips and say in very soft voices
"Vaya con Dios mi Hermano, Vaya con Dios." is what they say as they give him
to his God. As I watch I see my youngest daughter, she of the platinum blonde hair
Platinum Blonde hair and black eyes that are as deep and expressive as
those of her cousins and aunt. I watch as she is helped by those who are alike as one
They show her how to give him a farewell kiss and as I watch this wondrous
sight unfolding before my eyes, I see that all around me are watching as well
All watched transfixed as three little girls of mixed blood send a warrior
home as we watch and wonder, we see a small bird of snow white resting on the coffin.
The littlest one holds her hand up to the sky as she calls to the bird that lands gently
on her outstretched arm, she leans forward and kisses the Dove which then takes flight
Takes flight into the setting sun and darkening night giving a family a
sign that their Marine now rests in the arms of his God.
As we watch the Dove disappear into the falling night, I see Tio lay his bugle...
Lay his bugle on the coffin of steel and he takes something off of his chest
And he lays it on the coffin with the bugle. I see his lips move in a silent farewell;
A silent farewell from a Soldier to a Marine. It is over now as we began to leave
As we walk away from this place of rest and love I turn to send him one last kiss
As I turn towards the coffin I see a Teddy Bear and one Red Rose setting there.
A Teddy Bear wearing Marine Corps Dress Blues and a blood Red Rose
given to welcome him home and to let all know that he will be remembered forever
The Teddy Bear and the Blood Red Rose mean that he and those he protects will
always be remembered, this has been said and so shall it be from now until forever!
I send him a farewell kiss and I smile, I smile because I know that he is now Home;
Now Home and doing what he wished. Protecting the unwanted and cast aside spirits
Along with She of the white gossamer wings, he is now a Spirit Warrior.
Together they protect the unwanted and those who were haunted by another war.
Together they now protect the mortal remains and spirits of the others who rest;
Who rest in that place where they are loved and never a day passes that
That a Red Rose is placed on each of the stones that mark where they sleep
May they rest in the arms of Usen and of God Almighty for all Eternity
©Copyright April 24, 2006 by Alison Two Bears
US Navy Cross