Awesome!!!

I went to a Memorial Day service at my future home, the Omaha National Cemetery, today. I heard they had prepared for 1200, and all seating was almost filled.

The cemetery personnel and others went 'way out of their way to make everyone welcome and comfortable. There were golf carts continually shuttling people from the parking areas to the seating area and there was seemingly no end of volunteers ready to help however they could.

Since it was outdoors in the sunshine on a 90 degree day, during the entire service Boy Scouts and other volunteers continually circulated throughout the crowd handing out bottles of water. Under those conditions, it seemed every time you turned around someone was offering you a bottle of water.

All in all, a great experience. One of my wife's brothers is buried there, at least one of the two surviving plans to be buried there, and spouses are eligible.

The aerial view is computer generated, but it's almost finished to that point.

(quoted from post at 00:49:30 05/29/18) I went to a Memorial Day service at my future home, the Omaha National Cemetery, today. I heard they had prepared for 1200, and all seating was almost filled.

The cemetery personnel and others went 'way out of their way to make everyone welcome and comfortable. There were golf carts continually shuttling people from the parking areas to the seating area and there was seemingly no end of volunteers ready to help however they could.

Since it was outdoors in the sunshine on a 90 degree day, during the entire service Boy Scouts and other volunteers continually circulated throughout the crowd handing out bottles of water. Under those conditions, it seemed every time you turned around someone was offering you a bottle of water.

All in all, a great experience. One of my wife's brothers is buried there, at least one of the two surviving plans to be buried there, and spouses are eligible.

The aerial view is computer generated, but it's almost finished to that point.

Click to expand...

--------------------------------------------------

Military events, especially funerals are always unforgettable. Many years ago while in the Army, I was part of the Presidential Honor Guard located at Ft. Myer, beside Arlington National Cemetery. I participated in many wreath layings at the Tomb of Unknown Soldiers as well as many funerals and I have never forgotten the intense emotions that we all went thru while doing that. The military way of doing those events is simply awesome.

Memorial Day, with all the thousands of little USA flags at all the tombstones was a sight to behold.

Now, thru the years, I try to attend every Memorial Day service at our local cemetery. It is so rewarding to observe this as it brings back so many strong memories of so many years ago.
"All gave some, some gave all".
LA in WI

(quoted from post at 16:05:25 05/28/18)Many years ago while in the Army, I was part of the Presidential Honor Guard located at Ft. Myer, beside Arlington National Cemetery. I participated in many wreath layings at the Tomb of Unknown Soldiers as well as many funerals and I have never forgotten the intense emotions that we all went thru while doing that.

Click to expand...

I doubt I'll ever get the chance, but it would be my honor to shake your hand.


Goose, looks like an amazing ceremony for sure!

The little cemetery two lots over from me. I mow it, and have mowed it twice already. There are three service graves with little flags. They were replaced a few days ago. Noticed there is a plack that I have mowed over and figured to clear it today. The born date doesn't match the headstone by one year. Oh well. I cleared it and added my flag. Salute.

You have to admire the Sentinels at the Tomb of the Unknowns.

I've witnessed at least one wreath laying and several changing of the Sentinels. Both rather solemn occasions.

One of my pet peeves is the number of men who have to be reminded to remove their headgear, and the number of people who have to be told to be quiet and keep their kids under control.

One of the most somber days I have experienced in my life was this passed 16 March 2018 - My eldest brother's funeral. He was a USMC Veteran, and Military Honors were given. Even though the main part was in doors due to rain, it was .....difficult, to say the least.
The odd part about it was, the honor guard gave the 21 gun salute on the steps of the church - right across the street from a college, and next door to an Elementary School. They had to be warned beforehand so as not to cause a panic!
The USMC Honor Guard was FANTASTIC and caring. He would have been 68 on 6 May....

jeffcat your doing a good thing. That fellow served and lived a long life. I hope someone looks after my grave site.

From the movie Mr. Holland?s Opus, a military funeral is presented Respectfully.
Mr. Holland made his point to the young student brought to watch.
And the football coach read from the poem ?Flanders Fields?,
And says ?we know too many of these kids?........

I'm sorry but I just cannot see the need for my remains to occupy fifteen or so square feet of earth indefinitely. I should qualify for one of the military cementaries as I did four years in the Navy. Just make me a crispy critter and put the ashes anywhere you want. I do not think I will feel it any more.

Same here. I served 4 years, but I do not feel in any way that I've earned the right to be in a national cemetery. Had I been in another year or two, that might have been different.

However, I also don't care to have my remains taking up space anywhere. From dust I came, to dust I'll go.

I went to the graveside of a man that lived up the road from us, my dad worked all 6 of the boys(ten total 4 Girls). One of the Sisters was talking to me and asked me about cremation, how did I feel. I said I wasn't sure, probably my last chance AT A SMOKING HOT BODY..Thought she was going to pass out laughing..

Nice pictures. "Taking Chance" is a good movie of a Marine escorting the body of a fallen soldier to his final resting place.

I was active duty when my dad passed away. My dad served 31 years active duty, a WWII combat veteran and served from 45 to 71 on an artificial leg lost in WWII. I was really angry when some civilian lady told me on the phone (I was an SSG/E6 at the time) that we lived to far from the nearest installation to get a funeral team and to just get the local VFW to do the honors.

Now about 2 weeks prior I had just been in charge of the rifle team at a funeral. 1 officer, 2 SSGs, enlisted included the 7 man rifle team, 6 pallbearers and a bugler. We had traveled about 700 miles one way from Ft Knox. The man we honored served in WWI, never left the US, and had been a Pvt. We are 181 miles from Ft Snelling and 600 from Ft Riley. This was in 1988. I called the Command Sergeant Major of the Army (CSM). Dad had his honor guard! When I got back to Ft Knox my CSM (Bn level) had talked to the Army CSM. He chewed me out for doing that. Told me had I called him he would have sent my Platoon to burry my dad. 915 miles one way! If the Veteran or their families wish a military funeral or internment in a national cemetery, well we earned it.

Rick