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We have been back in Arlington for the past three days. I know you're thinking, "Wait, they were there in June. They buried the Pilot in June." You're right, but it appears that not all of the Pilot was interred in June. We've been agonized about this. We were invited to attend a memorial service and interment for all five of the men who died when the Pilot's plane crashed. Seems that some remains couldn't be identified, so they would rest together. The Samurai has been horrified to the point of categorically refusing to speak of this. We steeled ourselves to go, mostly to support Beth and the Preacher. The kids are in school, so they, mercifully, weren't there. This time, we were part of a crowd of the bereaved. Five families came together, including the relatives of the Iraqi pilot. Turns out he's the first Iraqi to be buried in Arlington. I am afraid he won't be the last one. We stood in the sweltering oven that is Arlington National Cemetery this time of year, sweat dripping down our bodies, and watched generals weep as they reverently presented flags to the next of kin. I looked around me at the large headstones--five killed in a helicopter crash in Viet Nam, four from a downed plane in Korea--and I understood. These men were brothers now. It didn't seem horrible anymore. The Pilot would have been pleased. The Air Force again proved to us that they are a family, and our Iraqi friends reached out to us, kissing Beth and the Preacher gratefully, treating them like honored relations. Afterwards, the Pilot's CO drove us down the hill to his grave, near his mom. We were surprised to see fresh flowers adorning the site. A lone woman stood nearby, who turned out to be the florist who had brought the flowers for the ceremony. She wanted to be sure the Pilot had flowers, too, in case we decided to visit him. If you are local to Arlington, you may have seen a piece on your evening news about the ceremony. Beth and the Preacher were hidden by a wall of blue Air Force personnel, but standing behind them, you could see a bald, bearded man and a dark-haired woman in purple--the Samurai and me. We hardly recognized ourselves. So solemn. So serious. I know I'll be standing behind Beth and the Preacher for the rest of our lives, supporting them with all the strength I possess. |
 
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Arlington Again