July 24 – “Cowboys and Fire Fighters”

I went to another funeral the other day.  This one was for a retired fire fighter captain.  He was also a member of the Cowboy Church, so everything was a mix of the pomp and ceremony of the fire service and the relaxed nature of the cowboy life.  Numerous fire fighters came, all dressed in their Class A uniforms to show their respects.  Many others arrived in blue jeans and white shirts, the preferred attire of cowboy church attenders.  A row of fire chiefs in uniform sat directly behind the row of cowboys who were the pall bearers.  It was a fascinating glimpse into two entirely different worlds.  One of our fire fighters asked me to walk to the casket with him before the service.  It was obviously a difficult moment for him.  Glad I could be there to help him out. 

The Cowboy Church pastor led the service and did a great job of drawing on his own connection with the family to bring them closer to peace.  After the service a combined fire department honor guard from Galveston and Santa Fe loaded the casket onto the union fire truck, which carried it to the cemetery.  I appreciated the citizens of Alvin in particular for pulling off to the side of the road in a display respect as the funeral procession made its wat through their town.  I didn’t see a single car defy the tradition.  Very impressive.  Two waste management trucks even pulled over and the crew stood reverently beside their trucks until we passed.  Friendswood did a pretty good job as well when we drove through their town.  At one point three cars stopped abreast across the opposite lanes and stopped traffic for the procession.  Sometime you could see the hesitance on the part of a driver as he began to pass other cars already pulled over.  Suddenly he would realize what was happening, but it was too late.  Now he had no place to pull over because the side of the road was already filled with other cars.  What an uncomfortable situation to find yourself in.  The closer we got to Houston-type civilization, the fewer responses of respect we saw.  Cars pulling over were definitely the exception rather than the rule.  One guy even pulled into the lane next to the procession and the police escort officers immediately forced him into the center turn lane to wait until we all passed.  As we pulled up to the cemetery the lead officer who was blocking the freeway exit ramp with his motorcycle, stood at attention holding his helmet at his side as the caisson pulled in.  Nice.

The graveside service was short and sweet.  The pastor just read two passages of scripture.  Someone must have told him it was really hot outside.  No one stayed very long.  The family was headed to a reception back at the cowboy church.  The fire fighters returned the truck to its bay and either went back to work or back to their families.  Once again, kudos to the honor guards from Galveston and Santa Fe for their work standing guard at the visitation and doing the honors at the funeral.  Proud of you guys.

Romans 16:25-27 says, “Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey him— to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.”

Father, walk with that family as they continue dealing with grief and moving on.  Amen.