I just came home from a Soldier's Funeral.

[KyndCulture]

I knew that on July 8th a soldier from Detroit Lakes, MN was killed in Iraq. He was the 4th national guardsman from my little town to die in the war.

Today was his funeral. I didn't know Spec Troy Linden, 22 but I heard that the phelps sickos were supposed to show up and the church was just walking distance from here. So I decided to go pay my respects and stand with the Patriot Guard Riders in case of any protest.

There were almost 1000 people including the mourners which spilled out into the middle school gym where a TV station from fargo set up a screen for them to attend the funeral.

They also played the speaker from the church outside the church so I stayed to listen. Beautiful eulogies about a kid who loved to snowboard and 4wheel in the mud, a brave kid who joined the Army in 2002 and was sent to Iraq with an engineering batallion in 2005 and died when an IED struck his humvee on a bridge in Ramadi 2 weeks ago.

I listened to the music and the prayers. Seems like half the town turned out.

There were about 300-400 patriot guard riders surrounding the church. I saw some people (3) holding signs down a hill far away from the church, an officer told me there were a few protesters but no one was allowed to go down there. Fine with me.

The service was beautiful and I went there completely emotionally unprepared because I didn't know about this funeral until this morning.

When the honor guard and pall bearers brought the flag covered coffin out of the small church followed by 2 soldiers holding his pregnant mother by her arms while she sobbed followed by Troy's father holding a 5 or 6 yr old boy and a teen age girl behind them.

I lost my breath and tears were streaming down my face. There it was, the cost of war 15 feet in front of my face.

I was given a flag to hold by one of the patriot riders and stood lining the street with all the other very sad faced americans standing with me while the patriot riders escorted the hearse and the 5 military vans carrying the young family and all the friends vehicles passed me. I stood with my hand over my heart and all I could think about is what a waste of a life.

It's taken me about an hour to be able to post this.

I'm overwhelmed. Bless Spec. Linden for his service and bless his family in their time of loss.

I've now been to more military funerals than the commander in chief. How very sad.




Some of the towns people and the patriot riders



The funeral procession with the white hearse on the way to the interment.



Grace Lutheran Day Care kids paying their respects.

[wicket]

1. Bless you

:hug:

Thoughts and prayers for the family of Spec. Linden.

[Pathwalker]

2. Thank you for this post, and taking the time to honor

that fallen soldier. I salute you.

[myrna minx]

3. Thank you for posting this.

I can't choke back the tears...:cry:

[i miss america]

4. Another precious life needlessly lost. Thank you for sharing and caring.

[proud patriot]

5. Thank you for sharing this

:patriot:

[Sapere aude]

6. Thanks for the post. I went to the funeral of a Marine from my area

who died from wounds received in Iraq. I makes me so mad that his death was so unnecessary yet we have to lie to ourselves saying that he died protecting our freedom in order to make some sense of it.

If more of us would speak the truth maybe the war could end soon and we could save some lives.

[babylonsister]

7. Thank you, KyndCulture, for sharing your experience.

I'm sure the presence of so many was of some comfort to Spec Linden's family.

[TygrBright]

8. aw, hell.... you screwed up, KyndCulture...

Didn't you know us Demon Liebruls is supposed to be anti-military, anti-troop, morale-busting whiney complainer types who wouldn't spit on a servicemember if'n he/she was on fire, 'cause we're too busy posting lies about our good Christian Commander-in-Chief all over the Internets?

What's any decent person gonna think if you show gratitude and pride in the service of a young neighbor, and tenderness and compassion for his family's loss, and sorrow and rage over the futility of it all, all over a public Internet place an' all? How are they gonna know what scum Demon Liebruls are?

ironically,
Bright

[KyndCulture]

10. I was subtly dressed in a red tank top with a peace button on.

and I had my no war amrband on my ankle because it kept sliding off my arm.

Some old lady told me that my ankle band was a political statement and didn't belong, I simply said peace is not political and you wouldn't be standing here if we had it and continued walking.

[michreject]

24. Obviously she confused you with the Patriot Guard

and not a caring individual. She meant no harm as the Patriot Guard is non-political and political messages from members are forbidden. We don't want to confuse the issue of why we are at the funeral. It's not about us. It's about the fallen soldier and family.

[KyndCulture]

26. She didn't bother me.

I wear a peace button and that armband everyday.

[SeattleGirl]

9. Thank you, KyndCulture.

Your post brought tears to my eye, sadness at the loss of yet another young person in this senseless war. Thank you for going to the funeral, and for sharing your experience with us. :hug:

[GreenPartyVoter]

11. Thank you for doing what you could to help this family on the saddest of

days.

[me b zola]

12. Thank you, KyndCulture

:cry:



:grouphug:

[Midlodemocrat]

13. Thank you, KyndCulture.

You are truly a wonderfully kind person for doing that. :hug: :patriot:

[gratuitous]

14. Thanks for the report

And I hope none of the kids in the last picture ever needs a similar one from their funerals.

Okay, evil thought time, and besides, Kyndculture brought it up first. When I saw the subject line "I just came home from a soldier's funeral," my initial reaction was "What is something George W. Bush will never be able to say? And let's finish the category for a thousand, Alex."

[KyndCulture]

15. This is another way to hit the streets folks.

I highly recommend you attend a funeral near you and show your respect. It will motivate you and move you to keep fighting.

[katinmn]

17. Beautiful report. I attended a military funeral for a Vietnam vet yesterda

in Duluth.

My uncle had been in the Air Force and retired as a colonel. He died not in the battlefield but in a hospital and the arms of his family.

I know it is meant to honor the deceased but I had very mixed feelings about all the military symbolism which I believe glorifies and institutionalizes war.

Good for you to wear your peace button and arm band. I am proud of you for showing your values and perhaps showing kids (and adults) that being anti-war is not being against the troops.:patriot: In fact, we support the troops so much we don't want them dying in vain for a rich man's war.

My heart goes out to the Troy Linden family and the whole community.

[KyndCulture]

20. Anti war doesn't mean against the troops.

That's why I went I think. I got a few dirty looks for the button and the band but only one person said anything.

I hope more people will attend a soldier's funeral. I have quite sorted it out in my head yet but I feel different.

[fordnut]

16. Exactly right just a kid

that because of Bush will not be able to grow old raise a family acomplish any of his dreams.I guess Bushes form of abortion is the best,not in my opinion!

[adriennui]

18. thank you for caring

this is what the war is about, the death of young people on all sides.
last year i went to one a funerals with my DH, the young man was a navy seal....the son of a business associate. it was a horribly surreal experience, it broke my heart to see his parents and fiancee. all for nothing. the photo on the mass card.....

[KyndCulture]

19. I stood for all of you today too.

I thought of my friends on DU and on Randi's board and if you had been here you would have done the same thing.

I also spoke with a soldier who just got out walking home. He never went to Iraq and he told me he is so ashamed of bush and is so ashamed he voted for him, I had a card in my pocket for our anti war senate candidate and I gave it to him.

[michreject]

21. Great job and thanks.

I ride with the Patroit Guard. I have a funeral this Saturday. My 5th. This shit's getting old, but it's oh so rewarding.

[KyndCulture]

22. Thank you for what you do!!!

[michreject]

23. Thank you.

I got out of the Army in 72. I will not let the honor that these brave soldier be tarnished. I do a little but collectively we do a a lot.

[democrank]

25. Tears are streaming.

Rest in peace, Spec. Linden.

[Cha]

27. I'm thanking you

through the tears falling down. Sometimes it just wants to all come out.

bush will thousands to their deaths but will veto a stem cell research bill that could help millions from dying and live a healthier life..has there ever been such a Evil power in the USA?

[B Calm]

28. Kick and recommended,

What a shameful waste of human life to fight and die for Texaco...

[Burma Jones]

29. Thanks for showing respect and compassion

All of us should, at the very least, agree that Phelps and his band of sickos should have their voices drowned out by Americans of all stripes.

[ray of light]

30. words can't express how I feel for this family.

[rasputin1952]

31. Thank you for this moving post...

Too often, especially under this administration, soldiers lost become numbers. We fail to recall that these were living breathing people with dreams and aspirations that will never see fruition.

I have been to 8 funerals of Vets in Nebraska...there have been no protestors; but there have been many tears at the mournful notes of Taps.

:patriot:

[michreject]

32. You might find this link interesting.

http://patriotguard.org/Forums/tabid/61/postid/149483/view/topic/Default.aspx

[lonestarnot]

33. Kick.

[yellerpup]

34. K&R

Thanks for going, thanks for standing up, thanks for sharing your experience. We should be watching these funerals every day. I believe it would diminish our national taste for war. Very touching. :cry:

[eppur_se_muova]

35. "I've now been to more military funerals than the commander in chief."

That really says everything about Bu**sh**, just everything.

[Blue Fire]

36. Very wonderful post, KyndCulture

DL has lost a real American hero. A sad day, indeed.

[DemonFighterLives]

37. Thanks for the report

Good Job!
:dem: