Cemetery Escort Duty

[Ed Ely]

SOME OF US WILL UNDERSTAND THIS MORE THAN OTHERS!

GOD ~ COUNTRY ~ HONOR

I just wanted to get the day over with and...........go down
to Smokey's for a few cold ones.

Sneaking a look at my watch , I saw the time , 1655.

Five minutes to go before the cemetery gates are closed for
the day. Full dress was hot in the August sun.

Oklahoma summertime was as bad as ever -- the heat and
humidity at the same level -- both too high.

I saw the car pull into the drive , '69 or '70 model
Cadillac Deville , looked factory-new.

It pulled into the parking lot at a snail's pace. An old
woman got out so slow I thought she was paralyzed. She had
a cane and a sheaf of flowers , about four or five bunches
as best I could tell.

I couldn't help myself. The thought came unwanted , and
left a slightly bitter taste: She's going to spend an hour
, and for this old soldier...my hip hurts like hell and I'm
ready to get out of here right now!"

But for this day my duty was to assist anyone coming in.

Kevin would lock the "In" gate and if....I could just hurry
the old biddy along , we might make the last half of happy
hour at Smokey's.

I broke Post Attention.

My hip made gritty noises when I took the first step and the
pain went up a notch.

I must have made a real military sight; middle-aged man with
a small pot-gut and half a limp , in Marine Full Dress
Uniform , which had lost its razor crease about 30 minutes
after I began the watch...at the cemetery.

I stopped in front of her , halfway up the walk.

She looked up at me with an old woman's squint.

"Ma'am may I assist you in any way?"

She took long enough to answer.

"Yes , son. Can you carry these flowers?

I seem to be moving a tad slow these days."

"My pleasure Ma'am."

Well , it wasn't too much of a lie.

She looked again.

"Marine , where were you stationed?"

" Vietnam , Ma'am.

Ground-pounder. '69 to '71."

She looked at me closer.

"Wounded in action , I see.

Well done , Marine , I'll be as quick as I can."

I lied a little bigger , "No hurry , Ma'am."

She smiled............. and winked at me.

"Son , I'm 85-years old and I can tell a lie from a long way
off.

Let's get this done , might be the last time I can do this.

My name's Joanne Wieserman , and I've a few Marines I'd like
to see one more time."

"Yes , Ma'am , At your service."

She headed for the World War I section , stopping at a
stone.

She picked one of the bunches out of my arm and laid it on
top of the stone.

She murmured something I couldn't quite make out.

The name on the marble was; Donald S. Davidson , USMC ,
France 1918.

She turned away and made a straight line for the World War
II section , stopping at one stone.

I saw a tear slowly tracking its way down her cheek.

She put a bunch on a stone; the name was; Stephen X.
Davidson , USMC , 1943.

She went up the row a ways and laid another bunch on a stone
; Stanley J. Wieserman USMC , 1944.

She paused for a second , "Two more , son , and we'll be
done"

I almost didn't say anything , but , "Yes , Ma'am , Take
your time."

She looked confused. "Where's the Vietnam section , son?

I seem to have lost my way."

I pointed with my chin. "That way , Ma'am."

"Oh!" she chuckled quietly.

"Son , me and old age ain't too friendly."

She headed down the walk I'd pointed at.

She stopped at a couple of stones before she found the ones
she wanted. She placed a bunch on Larry Wieserman USMC ,
1968 , and the last one on Darrel Wieserman USMC , 1970.

She stood there and murmured a few words......I still
couldn't make out.

"OK , son , I'm finished.

Get me back to my car and you can go home."

"Yes , Ma'am. If I may ask , were those your kinfolk ?"

She paused. "Yes , Donald Davidson was my father;

Stephen was my uncle;

Stanley was my husband;

Larry and Darrel were our sons.

All killed in action , all Marines."

She stopped , whether she had finished , or couldn't finish
, I just don't know.

She made her way to her car , slowly , and painfully.

I waited for a polite distance to come between us.......and
then double-timed it over to Kevin waiting by the car.

"Get to the "Out"-gate QUICK~! , I have something I've
JUSTgot to do."

Kevin started to say something , but saw the look I gave
him.

He broke the rules to get us there down the service road.

We beat her. She hadn't made it around the rotunda yet.

"Kevin............ stand to attention next to the gate post.

Follow my lead." I humped it across the drive to the other
post.

When the Cadillac came puttering around from the hedges and
began the short straight traverse to the gate ,

I called in my best gunny's voice: "TehenHut! Present
Haaaarms!"

I have to hand it to Kevin , he never blinked an eye;
full dress attention and a salute that would make his DI
proud.

She drove through that gate with two old worn-out soldiers

giving her a send off she deserved , for service rendered to

her country , and for knowing Duty , Honor and Sacrifice


I am not quite sure , but I think I saw............a BIG
salute returned from that Cadillac!

Instead of "The End".... just think of "Taps".

As a final thought on my part , let me share a favorite
prayer:

"Lord , keep our servicemen and women safe , whether they
serve at home or overseas.

Hold them in Your loving hands and protect them as they
protect us."

Let's all keep those currently serving and those who have
gone before , in our thoughts. They are the reason for the
many freedoms we enjoy.

"In God We Trust!"

Sorry about your monitor , it made mine blurry too!

Ed

[slugger6]

What a great story! Thanks for sharing it on this special day.

[Cannibul]

A very touching story.

However there are no records of any Wieserman on the Wall.

[oklawall]

Great story

Could not have been told on a better day