...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

What a piece of work is a man

So this morning I got a phone call from my Mom. She had just found out that my step Brother Raphael was killed in action while serving in the US Army over in Afghanistan. That was definitely not the news I was expecting to hear. Just the day before I was thinking about how he would be coming home in a few months. I don't think things have really sunk in completely yet.


KSL did a small piece on him, they interviewed Andrey, another of my step brothers. You can watch the clip here: http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=16413923
ABC4 also has a clip here: http://www.abc4.com/content/news/top_stories/story/Utah-soldier-dies-in-Afghanistan/wIqBq3Ea20Gf0phzifYMeA.cspx
Fox13 News: http://www.fox13now.com/news/local/kstu-ogden-soldier-killed-south-ogden-soldier-killed-in-afghanistan-20110718,0,2838902.story and http://www.fox13now.com/videobeta/9f0bbadc-272d-4433-95cf-ddb925f856e4/News/Brother-of-fallen-soldier-says-he-was-inspired-to-join-the-military
News 2 http://connect2utah.com/news-story?nxd_id=156477
The story was even covered in Brasil : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WhKOHYv03c&feature=player_embedded and http://www.demamacedo.com.br/2011/07/paraibano-morre-no-afeganistao-vitima.html
Article in the Salt Lake Tribune: http://m.sltrib.com/sltrib/mobile/52210899-78/arruda-andrey-brother-raphael.html.csp


Today was a good day. I am staying with my cousin down in Payson for a little while and today she taught the lesson in Sunday School. Her lesson was on the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. I thought it was such a tender lesson. It made me so grateful for the knowledge that I have and the comfort that the Savior brings. I know that death is not the end, and that the way is paved for all men to live again.


While I was getting ready to post the news story I had two Shakespeare quotes pop into my head.  
Hamlet:
"What a piece of work is a man, how noble in reason, how
infinite in faculties, in form and moving how express and
admirable, in action how like an angel, in apprehension how like
a god!"

MacBeth:
"Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day
To the last syllable of recorded time,
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing."

I always find Shakespeare's words so interesting. I don't agree with everything that he wrote, but there is always something that provokes thought. The one thing that I have been thinking about is just how fragile life is. We do not know how long we will have to live on this Earth - sometimes it feels like we will live forever, have all the time in the world, and then things like this happen. Rapha was so young, I still can't believe he is gone, but I trust in God. I know that this won't be easy for my family but I know that there is a purpose in it. Rapha had a good heart and was so loyal and full of life. I know he will be missed by many including myself.

If I Die Young - The Band Perry - I have this song stuck in my head. I love the melody, although I found the words a little strange. After watching the video I caught the reference to the Lady of Shalott by Tennyson but I the phrase 'a sharp knife of a short life' keeps repeating in my mind. 

RIP Rapha, jumpa lagi