Today I'm going back 10
years ago in 2012 when I was pastor at the Baker City Cathedral, in Oregon when I had
to lead a funeral of a young man from town, Mabry Anders who was killed in
Afghanistan during an ambush. His body was brought back into town with all
military honors, being carried in a carriage through town and brought to church
for the solemn funeral Mass. Many military personnel and state representatives
were present, including the state senator of Oregon. In the sanctuary we had a beautiful
and touching display, which you can see here in this photo. A photo of the
young soldier was displayed, and besides the flowers for the occasion, the
set-up included his gun, and his helmet, his boots and the American flag which
was folded in the traditional triangular shape, to be presented later on to his
parents. This is typical of all military funerals. The state senator also spoke
towards the end of the Mass and complimented me for the touching homily I gave.
At the cemetery, taps was played and gun/rifle salute was also given just
before the burial, as happens at all funerals for veterans, but especially for
the soldiers killed in action, as was this case.
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