What follows is a message from Vicki Pierce about her nephew James's funeral (he was serving our country in Iraq):
"I'm back, it was certainly a quick trip, but I have to also say it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. There is a lot to be said for growing up in a small town in Texas. The service itself was impressive with wonderful flowers and sprays, a portrait of James, his uniform and boots, his awards and ribbons. There was lots of military brass and an eloquent (though inappropriately longwinded) Baptist preacher. There were easily 1000 people at the service, filling the church sanctuary as well as the fellowship hall and spilling out into the parking lot.
However, the most incredible thing was what happened following the service on the way to the cemetery. We went to our cars and drove to the cemetery escorted by at least 10 police cars with lights flashing and some other emergency vehicles, with Texas Rangers handling traffic. Everyone on the road who was not in the procession, pulled over, got out of their cars, and stood silently and respectfully, some put their hands over their hearts, some had small flags. Shop keepers came outside with their customers and did the same thing. Construction workers stopped their work, got off their equipment and put their hands over their hearts, too. There was no noise whatsoever except a few birds and the quiet hum of cars going slowly up the road.
When we turned off the highway suddenly there were teenage boys along both sides of the street about every 20 feet or so, all holding large American flags on long flag poles, and again with their hands on their hearts. We thought at first it was the Boy Scouts or 4H club or something, but it continued .... for two and a half miles. Hundreds of young people, standing silently on the side of the road with flags. At one point we passed an elementary school, and all the children were outside, shoulder to shoulder holding flags ... kindergartners, handicapped, teachers, staff, everyone. Some held signs of love and support. Then came teenage girls and younger boys, all holding flags. Then adults. Then families. All standing silently on the side of the road. No one spoke, not even the very young children. The last few turns found people crowded together holding flags or with their hands on their hearts. Some were on horseback.
The military presence...at least two generals, a fist full of colonels, and representatives from every branch of the service, plus the color guard which attended James, and some who served with him ... was very impressive and respectful, but the love and pride from this community who had lost one of their own was the most amazing thing I've ever been privileged to witness.
I've attached some pictures, some are blurry (we were moving), but you can get a small idea of what this was like. Thanks so much for all the prayers and support."
A small town tribute
A small town tribute
"If America Was A Tree, The Left Would Root For The Termites...Greg Gutfeld."
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Betty Boop
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A small town tribute
BTS wrote: What follows is a message from Vicki Pierce about her nephew James' funeral (he was serving our country in Iraq):
You can click the attachedments to view.
Can't find any!!!
You can click the attachedments to view.
Can't find any!!!
A small town tribute
Mor pics
"If America Was A Tree, The Left Would Root For The Termites...Greg Gutfeld."
A small town tribute
And more
"If America Was A Tree, The Left Would Root For The Termites...Greg Gutfeld."
A small town tribute
Betty Boop wrote: Can't find any!!!
Sorry about that Betty Boop. My attachments did not come up so I had to post the WHOLE thing here.
Hope you can see it now. It really moved me...
Sorry about that Betty Boop. My attachments did not come up so I had to post the WHOLE thing here.
Hope you can see it now. It really moved me...
"If America Was A Tree, The Left Would Root For The Termites...Greg Gutfeld."
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Betty Boop
- Posts: 16987
- Joined: Sun Mar 27, 2005 1:17 pm
- Location: The end of the World
A small town tribute
Can just about see it through the tears! Good job I didn't witness it first hand, I'm way too emotional, I would have needed a bucket for the tears!
Very moving.
Very moving.
A small town tribute
I also found this and wanted to share. I think it gives us insite to why there were so many people touched by this great Father, Husband and Soldier.
Brief History
James spent his childhood in a military family in Southern California and moved with his father to Comfort when his parents divorced. At 6-foot-8, he excelled in basketball and he also played the trumpet. He joined the Army in hopes of building his computer skills.
He met his wife at an Army training center at Fort Gordon, GA. They married in July 2001. She was pregnant with their first child when he was shipped overseas. Nathaniel Ethan Kiehl was born on May 12, 2003. James was a member of Pfc. Jessica Lynch's unit, the Fort Bliss, Texas-based 507th Maintenance Company, which was ambushed near Nasiriyah on March 23. The unit was on a supply mission.
A COUPLE of miles along Highway 87, just past Comfort High School, a collection of seemingly random objects lies on a blanket beneath an American flag inscribed with the name James Kiehl.
James, 22, was killed on March 23 when his team of mechanics, cooks and supply clerks from the US Army’s 507th Maintenance Company were ambushed on their way to repair the computers on a Patriot missile launcher near al-Nasiriyah in Iraq. He is survived by his wife, Jill, whose first baby is due on May 4.
His friends in Comfort, a tiny town of 1,200 residents, a petrol station and a few antiques shops, have built an impromptu memorial to him using some of his favourite things. There is a water melon, a packet of crisps, a bottle of Coke, a model Corvette, some softball gear, a Reader’s Digest Nation of Heroes book and a baseball marked: “Thank you for protecting our and mankind’s liberty †God Bless You and may you rest in peace.â€
The memorial began two weeks ago, when a yellow ribbon was tied to the “Welcome to Comfort†sign after James, a computer engineer, and his team were declared missing in action. Since then it has grown by the day as visitors come to add their own objects and messages of condolence.
The two weeks between James’s disappearance and the confirmation last Friday that his body had been found in a shallow grave were an agonising hiatus for James’s father, Randy Kiehl, and his stepmother, Jane.
“We did not know whether he was alive or dead. The army wouldn’t tell us anything, so I took matters into my own hands,†said Mr Kiehl, sitting in his study beneath more than a dozen pictures of his son alongside just as many certificates and trophies marking his achievements at school and in the military.
“I set up the satellite receiver, two telephone lines, the cell phones, the internet. I looked everywhere I could and spoke to dozens of people to try to find my son.â€
He eventually found a video on the internet that confirmed his worst fear. The images were so gruesome that he would not let his wife see them.
What Mr Kiehl found was a section of an al-Jazeera video showing the bodies of soldiers from the 507th. One of them, although his face was obscured, was unmistakably James Kiehl, his father says.
“You see, he is 6ft 8in and a pretty big fellow,†Mr Kiehl said, “and you notice the little things about your children. I saw that little patch of fur he’s got growing out of his belly; just like mine. Then I was pretty sure it was him.â€
Mr Kiehl does not regret his son’s decision to go to war, and still supports the campaign in Iraq as vehemently as he did before James was killed.
“Me and James had a father-son chat before he left,†Mr Kiehl said. “I said: ‘Son, you’re 6ft 8in †you make sure you dig that foxhole 7ft deep.’
“And James said something to me that was rather profound. He said: ‘Other people around the world think we are spoiled and greedy Americans. But what they need to know is that we are rich in our freedom, and I want to go share that with the Iraqis’.â€
Mr Kiehl, who works in a factory that makes the meals ready to eat military ration packs and is a veteran of the US Army, is confident that he passed on enough knowledge of the Armed Forces to his son to prepare him for the worst.
He recalls his son’s enthusiasm and community spirit, which he believes would have helped in the battlefield. “He played trumpet in the high school band, he played basketball, he would help out with everything. And always fixing stuff. He loved being a computer engineer.â€
The Kiehls’ front yard is littered with half-built motorcycles and bits of engines, remnants of the projects James worked on with his father.
Jason Liefesten remembers that James, his best friend, was always thinking up crazy pranks, such as the time he abseiled out of a dormitory window while on a trip with the school band. “We were supposed to be in bed. Boy, we got our butts chewed for that one,†he laughed.
Mrs Kiehl is proud that James, whom she had raised since the age of 12, fought and died for his country.
But she said: “I do worry sometimes about what might have been different if I hadn’t told him when he was growing up that joining the army would be a good idea. I do worry about that.â€
Carol Howland, James’s natural mother, did not speak to her son for about eight years before his death, the Kiehls said. She will not be invited to the funeral.
James’s wife, Jill, is with her parents in Iowa, waiting for her husband’s body to be released. She is 8½ months pregnant with a son, James’s first child. They had been married for 18 months.
Mr Kiehl said: “Another thing he said to me on our last day was that he did not want his son to be raised in fear of terrorism. We are proud he has made sure of that.â€
The baby will have a special gift from his father, which James prepared before leaving for the Gulf in case the worst should happen. He bought three teddy bears; one for him to take away, one for Jill and one for the baby, who is to be called Nathaniel, a name chosen by James.
Nathaniel’s bear has a tape inside with James’s voice recorded on it. “Daddy loves you,†it says.
Mr and Mrs Kiehl travelled yesterday to the Centre Point Cemetery, near their home, to buy a plot of land in which to bury their son. “We bought a place for him, one for Jill next door, one for the two of us and two for Jane’s parents. Something like this makes you plan for the future,†Mr Kiehl said. Centre Point is not a military burial place, as James told his wife before he left for the Gulf that if he died he wanted to be buried somewhere more personal. But in Centre Point Mr Kiehl believes that he has found somewhere worthy of being the final resting place for his son. “There are 33 Texas Rangers buried in Centre Point: more than anywhere else in Texas,†Mr Kiehl said. “He’ll be in good company.â€
Brief History
James spent his childhood in a military family in Southern California and moved with his father to Comfort when his parents divorced. At 6-foot-8, he excelled in basketball and he also played the trumpet. He joined the Army in hopes of building his computer skills.
He met his wife at an Army training center at Fort Gordon, GA. They married in July 2001. She was pregnant with their first child when he was shipped overseas. Nathaniel Ethan Kiehl was born on May 12, 2003. James was a member of Pfc. Jessica Lynch's unit, the Fort Bliss, Texas-based 507th Maintenance Company, which was ambushed near Nasiriyah on March 23. The unit was on a supply mission.
A COUPLE of miles along Highway 87, just past Comfort High School, a collection of seemingly random objects lies on a blanket beneath an American flag inscribed with the name James Kiehl.
James, 22, was killed on March 23 when his team of mechanics, cooks and supply clerks from the US Army’s 507th Maintenance Company were ambushed on their way to repair the computers on a Patriot missile launcher near al-Nasiriyah in Iraq. He is survived by his wife, Jill, whose first baby is due on May 4.
His friends in Comfort, a tiny town of 1,200 residents, a petrol station and a few antiques shops, have built an impromptu memorial to him using some of his favourite things. There is a water melon, a packet of crisps, a bottle of Coke, a model Corvette, some softball gear, a Reader’s Digest Nation of Heroes book and a baseball marked: “Thank you for protecting our and mankind’s liberty †God Bless You and may you rest in peace.â€
The memorial began two weeks ago, when a yellow ribbon was tied to the “Welcome to Comfort†sign after James, a computer engineer, and his team were declared missing in action. Since then it has grown by the day as visitors come to add their own objects and messages of condolence.
The two weeks between James’s disappearance and the confirmation last Friday that his body had been found in a shallow grave were an agonising hiatus for James’s father, Randy Kiehl, and his stepmother, Jane.
“We did not know whether he was alive or dead. The army wouldn’t tell us anything, so I took matters into my own hands,†said Mr Kiehl, sitting in his study beneath more than a dozen pictures of his son alongside just as many certificates and trophies marking his achievements at school and in the military.
“I set up the satellite receiver, two telephone lines, the cell phones, the internet. I looked everywhere I could and spoke to dozens of people to try to find my son.â€
He eventually found a video on the internet that confirmed his worst fear. The images were so gruesome that he would not let his wife see them.
What Mr Kiehl found was a section of an al-Jazeera video showing the bodies of soldiers from the 507th. One of them, although his face was obscured, was unmistakably James Kiehl, his father says.
“You see, he is 6ft 8in and a pretty big fellow,†Mr Kiehl said, “and you notice the little things about your children. I saw that little patch of fur he’s got growing out of his belly; just like mine. Then I was pretty sure it was him.â€
Mr Kiehl does not regret his son’s decision to go to war, and still supports the campaign in Iraq as vehemently as he did before James was killed.
“Me and James had a father-son chat before he left,†Mr Kiehl said. “I said: ‘Son, you’re 6ft 8in †you make sure you dig that foxhole 7ft deep.’
“And James said something to me that was rather profound. He said: ‘Other people around the world think we are spoiled and greedy Americans. But what they need to know is that we are rich in our freedom, and I want to go share that with the Iraqis’.â€
Mr Kiehl, who works in a factory that makes the meals ready to eat military ration packs and is a veteran of the US Army, is confident that he passed on enough knowledge of the Armed Forces to his son to prepare him for the worst.
He recalls his son’s enthusiasm and community spirit, which he believes would have helped in the battlefield. “He played trumpet in the high school band, he played basketball, he would help out with everything. And always fixing stuff. He loved being a computer engineer.â€
The Kiehls’ front yard is littered with half-built motorcycles and bits of engines, remnants of the projects James worked on with his father.
Jason Liefesten remembers that James, his best friend, was always thinking up crazy pranks, such as the time he abseiled out of a dormitory window while on a trip with the school band. “We were supposed to be in bed. Boy, we got our butts chewed for that one,†he laughed.
Mrs Kiehl is proud that James, whom she had raised since the age of 12, fought and died for his country.
But she said: “I do worry sometimes about what might have been different if I hadn’t told him when he was growing up that joining the army would be a good idea. I do worry about that.â€
Carol Howland, James’s natural mother, did not speak to her son for about eight years before his death, the Kiehls said. She will not be invited to the funeral.
James’s wife, Jill, is with her parents in Iowa, waiting for her husband’s body to be released. She is 8½ months pregnant with a son, James’s first child. They had been married for 18 months.
Mr Kiehl said: “Another thing he said to me on our last day was that he did not want his son to be raised in fear of terrorism. We are proud he has made sure of that.â€
The baby will have a special gift from his father, which James prepared before leaving for the Gulf in case the worst should happen. He bought three teddy bears; one for him to take away, one for Jill and one for the baby, who is to be called Nathaniel, a name chosen by James.
Nathaniel’s bear has a tape inside with James’s voice recorded on it. “Daddy loves you,†it says.
Mr and Mrs Kiehl travelled yesterday to the Centre Point Cemetery, near their home, to buy a plot of land in which to bury their son. “We bought a place for him, one for Jill next door, one for the two of us and two for Jane’s parents. Something like this makes you plan for the future,†Mr Kiehl said. Centre Point is not a military burial place, as James told his wife before he left for the Gulf that if he died he wanted to be buried somewhere more personal. But in Centre Point Mr Kiehl believes that he has found somewhere worthy of being the final resting place for his son. “There are 33 Texas Rangers buried in Centre Point: more than anywhere else in Texas,†Mr Kiehl said. “He’ll be in good company.â€
"If America Was A Tree, The Left Would Root For The Termites...Greg Gutfeld."
A small town tribute
Darn you BTS! I've got to go to work and here I sit, tears pouring down. The teddy bear part really got to me.
A small town tribute
flopstock wrote: This was a very moving story when it happened over two years ago. And it pretty much reflected the feelings of everyone coast to coast here in america at the time it happened.
What is unforunate is that since that time 1600+ more American men and women, our sons and daughters, have died, most with a lot less fanfare at their funeral then this soldier received.
Yes it was over 2 years ago. But it still happened. Just like the sucker punch we took on the 11th of Sept. 2001. I suppose we should not talk about that (9/11) or bring up a small community that a few years ago showed their patriotisim
I wonder where you are getting this info from?
"most with a lot less fanfare at their funeral then this soldier received."
Please prove this statement for me if you can.
If this is so I think it might just be possible that Bush Haters like you would have to take some of the blame.
About our reasons to go to war. Look at a map of the mid east and find Afghanistan then find Iraq......... Who is between them? ......... Hmmm
Iran....
Coincidence......... I personally think NOT.
Warfare is not an easy thing in anybodys book. And we are not in a conventional war. They (Islam extremist) want you me and all infadels DEAD.
Got it?
What is unforunate is that since that time 1600+ more American men and women, our sons and daughters, have died, most with a lot less fanfare at their funeral then this soldier received.
Yes it was over 2 years ago. But it still happened. Just like the sucker punch we took on the 11th of Sept. 2001. I suppose we should not talk about that (9/11) or bring up a small community that a few years ago showed their patriotisim
I wonder where you are getting this info from?
"most with a lot less fanfare at their funeral then this soldier received."
Please prove this statement for me if you can.
If this is so I think it might just be possible that Bush Haters like you would have to take some of the blame.
About our reasons to go to war. Look at a map of the mid east and find Afghanistan then find Iraq......... Who is between them? ......... Hmmm
Iran....
Coincidence......... I personally think NOT.
Warfare is not an easy thing in anybodys book. And we are not in a conventional war. They (Islam extremist) want you me and all infadels DEAD.
Got it?
"If America Was A Tree, The Left Would Root For The Termites...Greg Gutfeld."
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Accountable
- Posts: 24818
- Joined: Mon May 30, 2005 8:33 am
A small town tribute
I would think that the lack of over 1000 web pages like the one you found would be proof of its rarity.
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Accountable
- Posts: 24818
- Joined: Mon May 30, 2005 8:33 am
A small town tribute
BTS, I was going to let it go, because Floppy can defend herself just fine, but I wouldn't be the gentleman my mamma raised.
I did a search of her posts, and browsed 3 or 4 pages. I think it's enough of a sample to say, unequivicably, that you are out of line. Primarily, she stays away from the political conversations, but when she chimes in it is invariable patriotic. Take a breath and read what she's saying, and I think you'll agree you owe her an apology.
I did a search of her posts, and browsed 3 or 4 pages. I think it's enough of a sample to say, unequivicably, that you are out of line. Primarily, she stays away from the political conversations, but when she chimes in it is invariable patriotic. Take a breath and read what she's saying, and I think you'll agree you owe her an apology.
A small town tribute
Accountable wrote: BTS, I was going to let it go, because Floppy can defend herself just fine, but I wouldn't be the gentleman my mamma raised.
I did a search of her posts, and browsed 3 or 4 pages. I think it's enough of a sample to say, unequivicably, that you are out of line. Primarily, she stays away from the political conversations, but when she chimes in it is invariable patriotic. Take a breath and read what she's saying, and I think you'll agree you owe her an apology.
Please show me where I am out of line?
I ask her to prove a statement. She is saying we do not show the same respect for our fallen soldiers as we did when the war began. I disagree. But if I am wrong and we do not show the same respect I think it just might be because of the Anti-Bush propaganda machine....... I think the same reason she came and slammed my original post for being old news.
PS:
Did you browse these pages on your massive search?
Soldier With Rhode Island Ties Laid To Rest
On Wednesday hundreds payed their respects at a wake
Mississippi soldier laid to rest
About 250 people attended the service and even more passed by the open casket, half draped with an American flag, to view the soldier dressed in a navy blue, velour jogging suit.
Soldier who helped bury troops is laid to rest himself
"We got an e-mail and it was the 6th of July, and he said that 'we are doing the right thing here, don't let anyone tell you differently, for reasons I can explain when we have more time when we're together,'"
“My brother Brad is a hero and he died for what every American enjoys in life, their freedom,†said Chad Squires, brother.
I could go on and on......... I disagree that we do not show the same respect for our fallen heros...
I did a search of her posts, and browsed 3 or 4 pages. I think it's enough of a sample to say, unequivicably, that you are out of line. Primarily, she stays away from the political conversations, but when she chimes in it is invariable patriotic. Take a breath and read what she's saying, and I think you'll agree you owe her an apology.
Please show me where I am out of line?
I ask her to prove a statement. She is saying we do not show the same respect for our fallen soldiers as we did when the war began. I disagree. But if I am wrong and we do not show the same respect I think it just might be because of the Anti-Bush propaganda machine....... I think the same reason she came and slammed my original post for being old news.
PS:
Did you browse these pages on your massive search?
Soldier With Rhode Island Ties Laid To Rest
On Wednesday hundreds payed their respects at a wake
Mississippi soldier laid to rest
About 250 people attended the service and even more passed by the open casket, half draped with an American flag, to view the soldier dressed in a navy blue, velour jogging suit.
Soldier who helped bury troops is laid to rest himself
"We got an e-mail and it was the 6th of July, and he said that 'we are doing the right thing here, don't let anyone tell you differently, for reasons I can explain when we have more time when we're together,'"
“My brother Brad is a hero and he died for what every American enjoys in life, their freedom,†said Chad Squires, brother.
I could go on and on......... I disagree that we do not show the same respect for our fallen heros...
"If America Was A Tree, The Left Would Root For The Termites...Greg Gutfeld."
A small town tribute
flopstock wrote: What I'm starting to have a problem with, with you, as well as Spot on the other side BTS, is that those of us in the center are constantly having ourselves called names by both of you, for simply pointing out clarifying facts.
I have NO PROBLEM with you showing a small town showing its patriotism. I have a problem with the lack of time stamp. By posting that today, you infer that it happened in the past few days if not the past couple of months. That's deceiving to the reader, ME.
Point taken about the time stamp.
I was not trying to deceive, just pay tribute small town America and their patriotism, Hence the title:
"A small town tribute"
I have NO PROBLEM with you showing a small town showing its patriotism. I have a problem with the lack of time stamp. By posting that today, you infer that it happened in the past few days if not the past couple of months. That's deceiving to the reader, ME.
Point taken about the time stamp.
I was not trying to deceive, just pay tribute small town America and their patriotism, Hence the title:
"A small town tribute"
"If America Was A Tree, The Left Would Root For The Termites...Greg Gutfeld."
A small town tribute
Scrat wrote: BTS. I can't feel much on the patriotic side of this. This individual died for nothing as have over 1700 other American soldiers.
I fail to understand your line of thinking, what in the hell is the point of wasting so much potential in a war that we will not accomplish anything in?
This is idiocy.
When are you moving permanently to russia again? I forget?
I fail to understand your line of thinking, what in the hell is the point of wasting so much potential in a war that we will not accomplish anything in?
This is idiocy.
When are you moving permanently to russia again? I forget?
"If America Was A Tree, The Left Would Root For The Termites...Greg Gutfeld."
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nvalleyvee
- Posts: 5191
- Joined: Thu Apr 21, 2005 8:57 am
A small town tribute
Very well said Far. My Son-in-law is about to be deployed to Iraq to train their military. He told me he loves this country and the military is giving him what no other employer has offered - the opportunity to get an education. He told me that if he dies serving this country I need to remember he died doing something he believed in and loved. He also said he married my daughter because the military would care for her and my future grandchild should something happen to him. Don't get me wrong - they had been dating for 5 years. They came for a visit over the 4th of July and when he saw the Support Our Troops flag flying on our house - he had tears in his eyes and quietly said Thanks, that means a lot to me.
The growth of knowledge depends entirely on disagreement..........Karl R. Popper