thedrifter
04-10-03, 07:13 AM
Report on todays activity in Denver
Hello All,
I went to the visitation of LCPL Thomas Slocum (KIA in Iraq) today. It was quite a moment for me. I stopped outside the funeral home and was speaking with two policemen when Terry (Thomas's mother) walked up the sidewalk.
I went over to her and extended my hand. She took it ane we bagan to speak. It turns out, she was friends with my wife in highschool. She said that was a "Blast from the past" that she hadn't expected. Then we hugged.
(BTW- Always hug on the left shoulder - that way, you are both "heart to heart")
I offered my condolences and my pride in her son bravery. She accepted it and began to tell me that there was no room for sorrow in her house. Noit until this thing (the war) is over. Then, it would be time for sorrow.
Terry told me that , "If you come into my house with a smile on your face, you would be welcomed. If you came in with tears, you would be escorted to the front door."
The courage and resolve of this woman astounded me. I gained instant respect for her and told her that, "It was easy for me to see where her son got his courage and strength from."
I asked her permission to go to the graveside services at Ft Logan National Cemetary, which the family had requested to be a private affair. She told me that, if it were up to her, she'd have the entire world come to the services. But, it was out of her hands. Since it started out at 200 people and quickly grew to 500 people wanting to be there, the police asked the family to put a stop to it.
There were reporters coming out from the woodwork and wanting to get interviews and so on. The Marine escorts had singled them out and asked all of them to leave.
I went inside and paid my respects on behalf of The Last Patrol and myself. I did the slow salute to the soldier's casket and did a rather pathetic 180 degree turn (military style) to exit to the rear. As I left the room, I came across the First Sergeant who had the horrible task of being the one who rang her door bell to give her the bad news almost two weeks ago. He said he had been with the family every day since. We spoke for quite some time.
It was from this Marine, that I learned some really bad news.
After I went back outside to confirm this news with the police, my blood began to boil.
I learned that there was an anti-war group that planned a huge protest at the Cathedral for tomorrow while the funeral services were taking place. The cops told me that they were well prepared for it and would not let it happen. I was told that there will be over 150 police there, just in case anything happens.
But, due to the fantastic events of the day coming out of Iraq and the beginning of the end of Hussein's regeim, the cops were thinking that there was little chance that the anti-war protestors would show up. But, if they did, they would be met by ample numbers of policemen who have fellow cops serving in Iraq at this very moment.
As I write this email, I am thinking very seriously about going to the services tomorrow morning at 11:00 at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church (located at 11385 Grant Drive) in Northglenn. Since I sm not a Catholic, I have a very hard time at Catholic type services. ( My old knees can't take all that bending ) So, I have no plans on going inside. BUT, I DO have plans on standing outside during the services and keeping my eye open for any anti-war faggots who happen to cross that "proverbial line in the sand".
The cops can't do much of anything because of their jobs. But all of us ain't quite so disciplined about things like that - are we? (EG)
Well, my friends, I promise to keep my cool as long as I can. But, in case you don't hear from me in a couple of weeks, please send my wife some bail money to help me get out. AND a couple packages of bandaids for my knuckles......OK??
SALUTE
Higgy
--
Mike "Higgy" Higgs,
----------
God Bless America
Are you a Patriot AND a Conservative?
Then you'll Love my newly re-vamped website.
Visit the New Firebase Higgy at:
http://www.firebasehiggy.us/
WARNING: Anti-American Liberals are NOT Welcome Here
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
"Support Our Soldiers"
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
United We Stand
God Bless America
Remember our POW/MIA's
I'll never forget!
Sempers,
Roger
Hello All,
I went to the visitation of LCPL Thomas Slocum (KIA in Iraq) today. It was quite a moment for me. I stopped outside the funeral home and was speaking with two policemen when Terry (Thomas's mother) walked up the sidewalk.
I went over to her and extended my hand. She took it ane we bagan to speak. It turns out, she was friends with my wife in highschool. She said that was a "Blast from the past" that she hadn't expected. Then we hugged.
(BTW- Always hug on the left shoulder - that way, you are both "heart to heart")
I offered my condolences and my pride in her son bravery. She accepted it and began to tell me that there was no room for sorrow in her house. Noit until this thing (the war) is over. Then, it would be time for sorrow.
Terry told me that , "If you come into my house with a smile on your face, you would be welcomed. If you came in with tears, you would be escorted to the front door."
The courage and resolve of this woman astounded me. I gained instant respect for her and told her that, "It was easy for me to see where her son got his courage and strength from."
I asked her permission to go to the graveside services at Ft Logan National Cemetary, which the family had requested to be a private affair. She told me that, if it were up to her, she'd have the entire world come to the services. But, it was out of her hands. Since it started out at 200 people and quickly grew to 500 people wanting to be there, the police asked the family to put a stop to it.
There were reporters coming out from the woodwork and wanting to get interviews and so on. The Marine escorts had singled them out and asked all of them to leave.
I went inside and paid my respects on behalf of The Last Patrol and myself. I did the slow salute to the soldier's casket and did a rather pathetic 180 degree turn (military style) to exit to the rear. As I left the room, I came across the First Sergeant who had the horrible task of being the one who rang her door bell to give her the bad news almost two weeks ago. He said he had been with the family every day since. We spoke for quite some time.
It was from this Marine, that I learned some really bad news.
After I went back outside to confirm this news with the police, my blood began to boil.
I learned that there was an anti-war group that planned a huge protest at the Cathedral for tomorrow while the funeral services were taking place. The cops told me that they were well prepared for it and would not let it happen. I was told that there will be over 150 police there, just in case anything happens.
But, due to the fantastic events of the day coming out of Iraq and the beginning of the end of Hussein's regeim, the cops were thinking that there was little chance that the anti-war protestors would show up. But, if they did, they would be met by ample numbers of policemen who have fellow cops serving in Iraq at this very moment.
As I write this email, I am thinking very seriously about going to the services tomorrow morning at 11:00 at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church (located at 11385 Grant Drive) in Northglenn. Since I sm not a Catholic, I have a very hard time at Catholic type services. ( My old knees can't take all that bending ) So, I have no plans on going inside. BUT, I DO have plans on standing outside during the services and keeping my eye open for any anti-war faggots who happen to cross that "proverbial line in the sand".
The cops can't do much of anything because of their jobs. But all of us ain't quite so disciplined about things like that - are we? (EG)
Well, my friends, I promise to keep my cool as long as I can. But, in case you don't hear from me in a couple of weeks, please send my wife some bail money to help me get out. AND a couple packages of bandaids for my knuckles......OK??
SALUTE
Higgy
--
Mike "Higgy" Higgs,
----------
God Bless America
Are you a Patriot AND a Conservative?
Then you'll Love my newly re-vamped website.
Visit the New Firebase Higgy at:
http://www.firebasehiggy.us/
WARNING: Anti-American Liberals are NOT Welcome Here
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
"Support Our Soldiers"
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
United We Stand
God Bless America
Remember our POW/MIA's
I'll never forget!
Sempers,
Roger