Displaced Thoughts of a 20-Something Mind

goodbye grandpa

My granfather was put to rest today in the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery here in St. Louis. It was a very emotional day, to say the least.
We arrived at the funeral home early this morning. Our family, including my father's 3 brothers and sisters, their spouses, 13 of my grandfather's grandchildren, and 14 of his great grandchildren, were in attendance. We said a few prayers, and then proceeded to walk by the casket and say our final goodbyes.
After a few well-wishers (family friends and such) went by, the immediate family was all that was left. No one wanted to be the first one to go. My father finally stood up, trying to be strong, and reached for my hand. We made our way up, and my father began to cry. It's hard watching my father cry. He's a military man, known for being the strong one on base, the one that gets on the young guns to be tough, but today, my father was just a son, saying his final goodbye to his own father.
My father kissed his father on the forehead, just as he has done for the past few weeks while visiting him in the hospital. And slowly, but surely, we said our final goodbye.
Many of my cousins chose to put a few things in the casket when they said goodbye. Small mementos that they thought my grandfather shouldn't be without. My grandfather was buried with packets of his planting seeds, which he always spent countless hours on the porch planting for his green house. He was given a Cardinal's hat, because our grandfather never missed a game. My brother gave him a Cardinal's schedule, and some tea, because grandpa could never be found on the porch without his tea. Some of my cousins gave him some packages of peppermints and butterscotches, which all of us grandkids used to sneak from the jar when our grandparents weren't watching. He had a can of tomato soup, because we all ate it at the house almost every visit. My grandpa will be occupied for a while. :)
There were so many things that I wish I had bought, but didn't think about it until afterward. I wish someone would have brought a wiffle ball, because he would always laugh at my grandmother when she would yell at us for breaking yet another window. Or one of those small cheeseburger boxes from White Castle. My grandfather loved him some White Castle cheeseburgers.
The actual service at the church was nice. I sat between my mom and my dad. My dad composed himself until after the service, as we followed the casket out. They took of the usual white sheet and replaced it with a U.S. flag. My grandfather was in the Navy. Him and my grandmother met at a U.S.O. club.
We made our way in the procession to Jefferson Barracks. I've never been here before, but this place is amazing. All of the sites are aligned just so, for as far as the eye can see in every direction.
There were 2 sailors in attendance, saluting us as we passed by, and they watched the rest as well. My grandfather had a galant send off. There was a 21 gun salute, and there was a man playing Taps on the trumpet as the sailors folded up the flag and handed it to the sailor. "I married a sailor. Thank you very much." It made us all smile through our tears to hear her say that to the sailor that presented it to her.
Grandpa is in a better place now. He's planting his way to heaven. His seeds are still growing here, too. I'm one of them, as are all of my aunts and uncles, their kids, and their kids. I think he had a pretty good run. We're all living proof of that.

posted by Christi @ 6:41 PM