Soldiers Reflect on Carrying Reagan's Casket

DoD-AFPS ^ | June 10, 2004 | Kathleen T. Rhem

[darkwing104]

THe only thing I can say is "great Job"

[No_Outcome_But_Victory]

I was discharged in 1994 from the military, and these people in our military of today seem larger than life to me.

What great young people we have!

[Mister Baredog]

WOW!

[Dog Gone]

Thanks for posting this.

[NautiNurse]

"the greatest thing since sliced bread."

Simple and sweet! Thanks for the post.

[WoodstockCat]

The second set of guys were really straining right before the door to the Capitol.
I really respect the job that all of those young men did yesterday evening.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

When Justin Rogers and Travis Sullivan were born, Ronald Reagan was president of the United States...

 

The evening of June 9, these two young men, now both Army specialists in the prestigious ceremonial unit, "The Old Guard" ... carried Reagan's casket up the steps and into the U.S. Capitol.

...Sullivan said his parents thought the honor was "the greatest thing since sliced bread."

~*~

 

     WASHINGTON, June 9, 2004 — Members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff salute former President Ronald Reagan's flag-draped casket during the funeral procession for the former president, June 9, 2004, along Constitution Avenue in Washington D.C.
     The former president died of pneumonia June 5 at age 93 in his home in California. On June 9, the body was flown to Washington, D.C., where it will lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda. A state funeral will be conducted June 11 at the Washington National Cathedral. President Bush will give the eulogy. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Shane A. Cuomo

www.defendamerica.mil 

~*~

[Infantry Grunt 1968-69]

Thanks for posting. Glad to have even a small connection to this great unit, the 1st Battalion, 3rd Infantry. I served with Co B, 2n Battalion, 3rd Infantry in Vietnam. Also know as The Old Guard.

[Hildy]

One of the unintended benefits of this whole ordeal is that people are remembering what America used to be like. While viewing the ceremonies yesterday, Michael Savage commented that it was like viewing the America he grew up in. That's how I felt.

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[McGavin999]

They were perfect. I did not see even one misstep. The precision, the dignity, the slow and careful movements just pulled at your heart. Fine job men.

[AZamericonnie]

Thanks for posting this. Those boys did a fantastic job. The Marine front & right of the caisson was fascinating to watch, he had an incredible stride that never broke the whole way.

[eyespysomething]

"As far as … the amount of respect we pay, it's just the same as everyone else," Sullivan said. "(Fallen service members are) all worthy of the same respect. That's what we preach to each other; that's what we strive to do."

Rogers said he feels a connection with every veteran whose funeral he participates in. "I feel like they're my brothers," he said. "They're my brothers in arms. It's a great honor doing funerals, no matter whose funeral it is.

"They served their country," he continued. "And in the end, I'm putting them back in the ground, showing them that respect. It's the last thing that the family sees."

[twigs]

One of the unintended benefits of this whole ordeal is that people are remembering what America used to be like.

The Dems must just be hating this! The current president is like Pres. Reagan in so many ways. And we're remembering the pride, the dignity...

[american_ranger]

Spc Sullivan went through basic and Airborne with my son. They are both from Wisconsin and had actually wrestled each other one year in High School. I drove down to their Airborne graduation and brought them home with me for their first leave. My wife and I had also gone down to Ft Benning at Thanksgiving. We borrowed my wife's niece's home (She and her husband lived on post)and made a bunch of their buddies one fine old fashioned Thanksgiving dinner. Pictures are posted on our website.

http://www.theliechtys.com/OSUT_Friends.htm
http://www.theliechtys.com/Thanksgiving.htm

[SAMWolf]

Old Guard Bump

[stayathomemom]

I suspect that a dairy farm boy from Wisconsin will have little trouble carrying his share of the 720 pound casket. Years ago, when we were living in the UP, we had the 17 year old son of a Wisconsin dairy farmer, who went to our church, deliver some bales of hay to us so we could mulch our garden. While my husband struggled to carry one bale at a time up the hill, this kid took two in each hand and carried four at a time with no problem at all. My husband was humbled.

[ELS]

bump

[auboy]

What great young people we have!

AMEN!

Thank you for your service!