...Strong Enough to Live it...

So I realize that I have been flying under the radar a little bit the last week or so. A lot of my time has been spent hanging out with my family, helping with the funeral plans and resting. All the preparations have been taken care of and things are good to go for the viewing tomorrow and the funeral Saturday. The Obituary is in the paper or you can read it online HERE.

Today we went to HAFB to be there when Rapha's body arrived in the casket. It was quite the to-do. We arrived early and waiting in a waiting room with a view of the runway. Military Personnel and employees of HAFB, Patriot Riders and the Police Escort were there to support and pay their respects. It was unreal. We met  the Base commander for Hill AFB, along with other Generals and Army and Air Force Officers.

Part of the gathering waiting for the plane to land, we stood front and center of the flags

Then once the plane had landed it came to where we were and they moved the casket to the hearse. Then we slowly made our way around the Base - it was as if the whole base shut down and everyone was by the road to watch as we rode by. It was amazing to see. Once we got to the main road off base, the police escort stopped traffic so that we could get through all the lights and then on to the freeway without any stops. The police escort was in front, then the hearse, then two cars with family members and finally the members of the Patriot Riders on their motor cycles. I should have counted how many that there were. Then we rode all the way to the Mortuary and once the casket was inside and taken care of we went home.

My view through the back window - as we were leaving the base, we had the hearse go ahead of us

My view from the back seat - the hearse and police escort. Cars pulled over and stopped as we rode by. A few  people even got out of their vehicles. 

The rest of the day was spent cleaning and making further preparations for the days to come.

Tomorrow: Viewing Saturday: Funeral and Internment Sunday: Back to Payson Monday: Go to the airport Tuesday: In Virginia