Today Cleveland County honored the life of a fallen soldier who served our country. I do not know this man but my family stood to honor him as the processional made its way through our city.
I hadn’t really thought about it much… other than “that’s sad that happened”… and “he was from Shelby”. My friend texted me last night & asked if I was going to processional. My first thought was “no, I didn’t even know him”. But then I started thinking… we have a family member serving right now and a good friend who was deployed just about a month ago. This processional today wasn’t just for one man, it was for all soldiers…past and present….ones who have served, ones that are there now, those that will serve in the future. So many have sacrificed for our country… willingly… and today this soldier did not come home to hug his family, but he came home in a different way.
As I watched the hundreds of cars drive by, looking into the eyes of those I could see… tears, smiles, cameras… I wondered what they must have been thinking. They drove for 7 miles with people alongside the roads the entire drive. Tears filled my eyes.
Business closed for a few hours or excused their employees to come out in support… parents pulled kids out of school early to go…two entire schools brought their kids out in front of the school…. little kids (including mine) who probably don’t even understand what was going on. For a few short hours, people stopped…. they stood alongside a road, most of them holding a flag, in silence, hands covering their hearts. People showed that they cared and I am honored that my family was able to experience that. Not only for Sgt. Chris Newman… but for all the fallen soldiers and those who are serving now.
What was witnessed today will be forever etched in my mind. I’ve never experienced this before and I hope I never will have to experience it again. Today I am thankful… for the freedom to live in a country that sometimes comes at a price…and for the freedom of eternal life that comes because of my Savior.
