That was inspiring...
I had never been to a funeral for one so young. Charlie Matheny was 23 years old when killed in Iraq.
I had never been to a funeral where supporters--not one of whom actually knew Charlie--lined the sidewalk outside the funeral home, holding U.S. flags, having placed more and smaller flags along the sidewalk, in the planting area.
I had never been to a funeral service conducted primarily by the U.S. Army.
I had never heard a modeling event--RC Combat--mentioned during a funeral service.
I had never seen an outlaw biker giving a heartfelt hug to a U.S. Army general.
I had never attended a military burial service, this conducted entirely by the U.S. Army.
Truly, it was inspiring.
Even the weather was exactly correct: Overcast, slightly chilly, a light rain.
Modelers were represented. Steve Helmick, Buzz Wilson, Howard Rush, Jeff Rein and I were there.
Charlie's father, our friend Chuck Matheny, was thoroughly moved and none too comfortable speaking to the crowd. But he worked through it in a commendable fashion, with the honesty and openness we have come to expect from him.
Another family representative, while not at ease of course was quite good. Many anecdotal stories of Charlie's life, delivered in an entirely appropriate tone. Sad stories, funny stories, a celebration of Charlie's too-short life.
And Charlie did indeed conduct himself in a heroic fashion while in Iraq. The act of selflessly volunteering for dangerous missions so his married friends would be placed at less risk was a common theme for the young man, not a few incidental acts.
Why would he do this? From those who knew him best, Charlie just could not have lived with the knowledge that friends may have been hurt or killed had he not intervened by taking hazardous duty upon himself.
Toward the end of the ceremony there was a short video, accompanied by Aerosmith playing "I Don't Want to Miss A Thing." Honestly, I was dreading this. It is so easy to take this kind of presentation clear over the top.
Not so this time. Quite well done in all ways.
As we left the building the flag-bearing supporters were still out front. There is something comforting about people first showing up to support a fallen hero at the beginning of the ceremony and still being there as the ceremony ends. None of them just phoned it in...
And there was an impressive line of choppers in the parking lot. All backed up to a curb, angled just so, the easier to seamlessly pull away in joining the procession to the burial site.
It was pretty obvious early on that the bikers were also there in support of a fallen hero. And that this was hardly the first time they had seen this movie.
The leader of the group was a big, burly man with unkempt hair and beard, three-up, one-rocker sergeant's insignia on his jacket.
Perfect, just perfect. I was nearly moved to tears at the thought of the bikers and the supporters in front of the building being there based upon principle and a very strong sense of patriotism.
The U.S. Army general came from the building, greeted the leader of the bikers, they exchanged a few words...
And embraced.
Oh, man!
One lives a life filled with rules written by others and is obviously successful.
One lives a life based upon his own rules and is also successful.
The contrast could not have been more stark, and yet they were here for shared reasons, honoring Sgt. Charles "Charlie" E. Matheny, IV.
It was a service which filled the funeral home, and thus the procession was a long one. Headed up by Charlie's body in the hearse, his family in stretch limos, the bikers bringing up the rear in a glorious display of rolling thunder.
As we left the funeral home, all the supporters in front of the building and alongside the main street through Auburn, Washington, moved to the middle of the street, flanking the cars in the precession. One could not possibly have witnessed this show of support without being moved.
I am thoroughly chagrined to admit that I was slightly suspicious in the beginning. In this state we have seen the absolutely shameless spectacle of anti-war protesters making their case during funerals for our soldiers; I was further moved to suspicion when one of the local television stations was seen filming and doing interviews.
I was wrong, thank God.
Tahoma National Cemetery is a military burial ground and is located in a lightly-populated area.
Still, this is a route used by funeral processions for the military and it was with immense gratification that I noticed a man in his late 70s standing outside his home workshop. He had obviously been working in the shop, but upon hearing the sirens of the escort service he stepped outside and stood still, a hand held over his heart.
A small gesture? Possibly. But not to me and not at that point in time.
It is stunning to see the rows and rows of graves in Tahoma.
Even more telling, there were signs of clearing land, planting more grass, all toward expanding an operation which already seems much too large to readily comprehend as to the lives lost in defending our great country.
The burial service was conducted entirely by the U.S. Army and seemed timed to begin shortly after the last of the big V-twins went silent.
Bag pipes, clean-cut men in their dress uniforms, a thoroughly and absolutely professional ceremony in all ways.
To me, the most impressive act was folding the flag draping Charlie's coffin. They do this in the hardest way possible you know, the flag held in the air by six men, slowly, slowly and with painstaking care making each fold. The folded flag was then passed along the line of bearers, to the NCO in charge, to the general who then presented it to Chuck.
Another flag was brought forth, draped on Charlie's coffin for a moment and then it too was folded and presented to Charlie's mother.
While it was small thing, if one took the time to look there were people making a complete record of the service for the family. Again, thoroughly professional and respectful; one had to specifically look for the people with cameras and video equipment to even know they were at work.
I didn't want to hear of my friend's son dying in service to our country. Strictly speaking, and to be perfectly blunt, I didn't even want to be at the funeral service or the burial ceremony.
I am so very pleased to have been at both ceremonies.
It really was an incredibly inspiring experience.
"My Heart is Edged in Black"
Once my heart was filled with the light and
ardor of a friendship;
Moments I can now only treasure,
Then, only happened without a second thought.
I enjoyed our friendship without judgment
And, pray that you now know,
I feel a tremendous loss!
Suddenly, all is over...
Your mortal life has come to an end.
It seems a dream that you have vanished,
never to come back, again.
For you, Charlie, my thoughts are filled with
memories and my heart is edged in black.
Rest in Peace my Brother, My Friend,
For You Will Be Greatly missed,
Sgt. Charles E. Matheny
Until We Meet Again!
Written by: Sgt. Heath (Tiger) Ward
B Co. 704th, 4th Infantry Div., Baghdad, Iraq
Best Friend and Big Brother
Topic: Taps to play on Monday (Read 1492 times)
