lord_casek Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 The night before the burial of her husband's body, Katherine Cathey refused to leave the casket, asking to sleep next to his body for the last time. The Marines made a bed for her, tucking in the sheets below the flag. Before she fell asleep, she opened her laptop computer and played songs that reminded her of "Cat," and one of the Marines asked if she wanted them to continue standing watch as she slept. "I think it would be kind of nice if you kept doing it," she said. "I think that's what he would have wanted." The day before the funeral of their friend, 2nd Lt. Jon Mueller, left, and 1st Lt. Matthew Baumann practiced for hours folding a flag, making sure there would be no errors the next day. "That will be the last time his flag is folded," said Maj. Steve Beck, as he instructed them. "It has to be perfect." Katherine Cathey pressed her pregnant belly to her husband's casket, moaning softly. The baby, born Dec. 22, 2005, was named James Jeffrey Cathey, Jr. As his son's funeral neared, Jeff Cathey's tears rarely stopped. He often found comfort in the men who shared his son's uniform. "Someone asked me what I learned from my son," he said. "He taught me you need more than one friend." Before the burial of James Cathey's body, his casket was covered with the white gloves of the Marines who carried him, along with sand they brought from the beaches of Iwo Jima, and a single red rose. http://digitaljournalist.org/issue0604/finalsalute_thumbs.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crystal.method Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 thank you. good post Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dowmagik Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 military funerals are ruthlessly sad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NayS Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 damn, sent shivers down my spine. some nice photography aswell. good post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LIVERWURST* Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 History teaches that wars begin when governments believe the price of aggression is cheap. RONALD REAGAN, speech, Jan. 16, 1984 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Dumielle Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 I went to a military funeral a couple months ago for my girls uncle. It was crazy sad... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yinz n'at Posted January 19, 2008 Share Posted January 19, 2008 so sad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MayorMeanBeans Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 this picture is amazing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stimme Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 Shit made me tear up alittle. good post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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