We mustn't forget...

It was a long drive to Washington DC after the memorial service in Virginia Beach. We had two cars making the journey. My uncle and cousin would be flown by a donated United Airlines jet with the other SEAL families. We were driving and flying home from DC. What should have been a four hour journey...took MUCH longer. Many were on the road fleeing Irene's path. Then a completely unrelated storm and an accident slowed us down. We did finally make it to DC and crashed in the hotel room.

We had to be at Fort Myer in Memorial Chapel by 3:30 Friday afternoon. Fort Myer is the Base connected on to Arlington National Cemetery. We parked at the chapel and decided to wonder around the cemetery. My nieces and nephew were interested in seeing the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
We then headed over to see Kennedy's Memorial. By this time we realized it was really hot and we were a long way from the gate we had to back to! Eventually we made it back. Sweaty, but we were there.

The family was asked to be seated in the chapel a little bit prior to the service. The actual service in the chapel was fairly short. An officer and the chaplain spoke after the a folded flag was ceremonially brought in and placed at the front. We were asked to stand and allow the immediate family to leave first.

Rob was actually buried at sea a couple of days prior, so we allowed other families to leave ahead of us. When we left the chapel, a Navy band was standing outside, as was a horse-drawn cason with a flag draped casket. All of the families gathered behind it. Once we were all outside, the band began to play as it marched forward into the cemetery. Slowly, we followed as the caisson fell it behind the band.

We entered the cemetery through a back gate that is part of Fort Myer. The burial site was about 3/4 miles from the gate. As we got about a 1/4 of mile in, I turned around. I hadn't seen a lot of people outside the chapel. There were about 400 or so in the chapel (keep in mind I am a horrible judge of numbers, distances, etc.). But there were hundreds of people stretched out behind us.

After a few minutes we came upon this scene...It's difficult to see in this photo, but you are looking at 14 caskets with flags stretched tight and held aloft by 6 sailors at each. It is a sight that catches the breath. There are only 14 caskets, because the others buried elsewhere.

We approached the site. Immediate family were seated under the tents, we filed in behind. After a few minutes, the Missing Man Formation flyover. The rifle squad fired three volleys. What followed was difficult to see. We were behind some of the people standing. A lone bugler played taps. Each of the stretched flags was folded. Slowly that passed the flags one by one to the families. Several men stopped at each family to say a few words.

Once the main service was over, each family gathered around their loved one's casket for private ceremonies.








We all walked away. The SEALS were honored.

Now we have to not forget...