One Hero

My last post was about two heroes. Today is Wednesday, October 17, and Chief Warrant Officer Kevin Purtee will be the Grand Marshall, riding with the Clydesdales in the opening day parade for the 99th Annual Trinity Valley Expo, the largest single day event in this area. Yesterday Liberty, Texas, the United States, buried another heroic son.

Monday, October 15, as the motorcade crossed the line into the City of Liberty, KSHN radio owner Bill Buchanan quietly declared, "Marine Lance Corporal Jeremy Burris is home."

Mike and I were along the side of the street with flags where the motorcade carrying Jeremy's body and his family came in to town Monday afternoon. The Governor ordered all flags in Liberty County at half-mast and the mayors of Dayton and Liberty asked citizens to line the streets to honor Jeremy and to show his family the respect. The local radio station was broadcasting their progress as they made their way from Bush Intercontinental Airport to Liberty so everyone would know when they were near. The streets were lined with people and flags for miles. Even the radio guys couldn't keep from choking up and had a lot of trouble just being able to talk.

The motorcade went past the elementary school, where the children were all outside at the curb, among all the flags. After it passed us we walked a couple of blocks up to be at the funeral home and witnessed the family's arrival, the salutes of the Patriot Guard Riders, the Honor Guard, men from the VFW, our local police department, and many others. All watched silently, reverently as they removed the casket from the hearse and took it in, Jeremy's family following.

Soon the family was all inside and the crowd began to disperse, quietly. While the visitation this evening was open to anyone, I was not sure about whether I felt right about going. I don't know this family personally, yet Jeremy didn't know me either, and that didn't stop him from serving on my behalf, and paying the ultimate sacrifice - for me.

Mike and I were discussing going to the family visitation when Lynna, my sis in law, called. Lynna and Mike and I had plans to take Granny out for her birthday dinner this evening. But Granny and Grumps were planning to attend the visitation for the Burris family and would meet us afterward.

But they live about 45 miles from here in another town. How did they know the Burris family? Opry. It's big here. Liberty has an Opry on the professional scale of any of the best in the country - professional Opry singers perform here every Saturday night. My in-laws love Opry and go often. Jeremy Burris's mother's family founded the Liberty Opry. Jeremy's mother, Carla, still performs there often. In fact, several of her children have sung there and Jeremy was there on his last leave.

Although visitation was open to the public, knowing that Granny and Grumps would be there made it easier for me to go - just to thank them, even though they didn't know me. I remember how good it felt to me that total strangers took the time to come and see me after the fire. So why was I letting my self get ensnared in this "maybe-I-shouldn't-go-because-they-don't-know-me" garbage?! No, that kind of thinking was ridiculous. Their son served our country and it cost him his life. The least I could do was go and thank them.

Mike and I met Granny and Grumps at the funeral home and as we were standing in line to offer condolences Granny took my hand and said, "You do know that Carla came to our memorial service, don't you?"

No.... wow... I didn't know that.

In fact, as it turns out, Carla not only came to our family's memorial service, she also sang a song dedicated to Mycol and the kids in the next Opry, broadcast on the radio. That was January, 2003 and I was just now finding out about it.

When we got up to the family Granny introduced Mike and me and I had a chance to thank them, first for their son and for the sacrifice, and then for being there when I was in the place they are now. I was so glad we went.

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Yesterday, we attended Jeremy's funeral and burial as well. What a deeply committed Christian man he was. During the service the pastor referred to the thousands of citizens, many who did not know Jeremy or his family, who came out to pay tribute to a hero, to a son, a brother, and said, "This is America! It's not what you see in Hollywood - no! This is America!"

He went on to read an email from Jeremy's commanding officer to Jeremy's father, Brent Burris. The message conveyed a deep respect and described the difference in Jeremy - his witness, his passion for righteousness and for everything he does. Then he read Mr. Burris's response.

Jeremy's father wrote to this commanding officer that Jeremy had always wanted to be a Marine. When he was about eleven he wanted to fly a Harrier, but now that he drove a five-ton vehicle that was just fine - he loved what he was doing. The versatility and impressiveness of a Harrier is no comparison now to being swept up in the arms of Jesus. And even if he'd flown a fighter jet, the thrill of landing on a carrier could never compare to the moment Jeremy's feet landed on the golden streets of Heaven. Mr. Burris urged the officer and Jeremy's fellow soldiers to examine their lives, and to make a decision to follow Christ.

When the time came for the family to take Jeremy's body to the cemetary the route took the procession back through town, past the middle school and high school. Again, the streets were lined with people and flags. Liberty High School students stood holding a huge flag that spanned the width of the street and a sign that read, "LHS Honors Marine Lance Corporal Jeremy W. Burris." Another sign read, "Thank you Jeremy for your sacrifice." Fire trucks from seven different towns joined the motorcade. Huge cranes were extended, holding flags at two different intersections. Businesses closed, school children came out, people stood in reverence as the hearse and the family passed on their way to the cemetary.

Full military honors, the 21-gun salute, presentation of the flag to Jeremy's father with salute, orders read in military style by a Marine to award the Purple Heart handed to Jeremy's mother, presentations by a mothers of war group and the Patriot Guard Riders were followed by a dove release and then release of red, white and blue balloons.

Hundreds of people waited in line to give one more word of condolence and encouragement to Jeremy's brothers and sisters and to Mr. and Mrs. Burris. This was something the family could have kept private but they didn't. They chose instead to allow the entire community, and beyond, to come and grieve with them, to show support for them and appreciation for Jeremy's sacrifice. They could have demanded privacy, but they didn't. They knew how imporant this was to the community. Deeply saddened by the facts, I am most certainly not alone in my gratitude for the opportunity to show appreciation and support.