I Stood and Saluted

Over the past two weeks the world lost two celebrities and a hero. While it was sad to hear about George Michaels and Carrie Fisher, for my wife’s family it was more the passing of Harold Mufford that made the impact – a hero has passed.

We have lost another of the few WWII veterans. Today, it was my honor to stand in a small crowd to say good-bye. Most of the crowd was made up of Harold’s family. Considering the man was survived by his wife, four children and three children in-laws, six grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren, just the family filled many of the chairs. I attended with my wife, Harold’s cousin. His youngest daughter and my wife have been good friends for almost 40 years. There was no way we would miss this send off. Family takes care of family.

I had the honor of meeting Harold about five years ago. I spent time talking with him while he shared his stories of his life. The stories covered so much of his life. I was in awe of this man and all that he had accomplished in his life. I learned a little as to why his generation was called the greatest. Here was a man who had served his country, his family, and his town. This man was a husband, father, veteran, mayor, council member, and community member.

Last night, I had the chance to read some journal entries from Harold’s missions in WWII. I read events of a twenty year-old that gave me goosebumps. I read about Harold being held by his feet at 30,000 feet as he dangled out of the bomb bay in order to bring up damaged doors. The book was filled with a list of every single mission and trials and tribulations that a young man should never have to face.

It was the news article to the side that really caught my eye. Last January, Harold and his wife passed a mile stone of which I have never known another to reach. Harold and his wife celebrated 70 years of marriage. These two people had gone through every high and low imaginable. They stayed together through it all and managed to do it with love.

This morning, Nancy and I, along with many others, came together for a final send off. We listened to the family share stories of this man. We heard how he managed to get through life with humor. His children told how he taught them right from wrong, to do right, and that parenting isn’t always fun and games. It is about making the tough choices.

After the funeral home, we moved to the cemetery. However, first the procession took a tour of town. As we passed his favorite restaurant two servers stood outside to say their good-byes. We passed his house. We pulled into the cemetery to find two soldiers standing at attention in honor of one of their own coming home to rest. We huddle in a small group as the two soldiers took up their posts. One marched about twenty paces away and picked up her muted bugle. There in the silence of the morning with a cold wind gently blowing, the flag in the distance at a full wave, Taps blew. The haunting sound drifted across the air. My days of old came back to me as I stood a little taller, my feet came together, I dropped my wife’s hand, and my right hand slowly came to the rim of my cap. I, along with two others, gave a final salute to Harold. A man who deserved to be saluted.

Over the last two days, I have had a chance to visit a time when the young people of this country came together to stand united. I am not going to say that things were perfect or great back then – they weren’t. However, we were attacked and the people said no. I was given the chance to wonder if I could have or would have done the same. I saw a glimpse of a generation that only has a few that remain. The sadness was almost complete. Almost.

The real sadness came when I started watching a little bit of news last night and then today. I saw what has been happening at malls across the country. I saw the stories of how young people have been getting into huge fights in food courts and stores. I sit here and watch how police are having to go store by store to find people that are involved and remove them from the malls. From the stories I have seen and read, there doesn’t seem to be a reason for these fights – it is just people wanting to fight.

As I see each story, I think of Harold, his peers, those with whom I served, and those who serve today. Those people didn’t want to fight, but were called to for a reason. Today, people want to fight, but don’t seem to have a reason. I don’t know how to fix what is happening. Perhaps no one does and it is something that will need to play out. I hope, pray, and believe that this current generation can step up and be just as good as Harold’s. Time will tell.

So goodnight dear Harold. May you rest in peace. You did your family proud. Taps is still echoing for you. You set the example for many to follow. I pray that we do.

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