Killed in action the week before, the body of Staff Sergeant First Class John C. Beale was returned to Falcon Field in Peachtree City Georgia, just south of Atlanta, on June 11, 2009. The Henry County Police Department escorted the procession to the funeral home in McDonough Georgia . A simple notice in local papers indicated the road route to be taken and the approximate time.
Nowadays one can be led to believe that America no longer respects Honor and no longer honors sacrifice outside the military. Be it known that there are many places in this land where people still recognize the courage and impact of total self-sacrifice. Georgia remains one of those graceful places.

The link below is a short travelogue of that day's remarkable and painful journey. But only watch this if you wish to have some of your faith in people restored.

http://blip.tv/play/AYGJ5h6YgmE

__________________
UWTW&G !!

Being in Georgia that doesn't surprise me. The folks there (I used to be) seem to be cut from a different cloth when it comes to things like this. One day I'll be able to return and join them.......

I saw that video the other day. Not ashamed to say it brought tears to my eyes.

RIP Staff Sergeant First Class John C. Beale.

This doesn't surprise me at all. There's just something about the South, and it's commitment to service of man and country that rises above other areas of the country. Good job and well done.

I was overwhelmed and brought to tears.
It's sad to say, but this wouldn't happen in New Jersey. While there are many who believe in and honor the sacrifices of our troops, there are too many here who take them for granted. It's obvious that the Americans in the video do honor SS Beale's sacrifice.

__________________
NCY in the PR of NJ

I've never lost my faith in these kinds of people and the places out in "flyover" country where we live.

Sometimes the system gets hijacked by those who get too noble-minded to be any practical use to themselves or anyone else and by those who only want something handed to them, but don't believe it's worth working or fighting for.

And eventually, when they screw it up bad enough and their way of life collapses the system, these people in the little rural towns and on the farms and in the hills and on the back roads will do what they've always done. Clean up the mess and start over again. Because that's the glory of what those "old dead white guys" gave us in our Constitution and our American Revolution - the ability to determine our own path and fix it when those who "lead" stray too far.

That is the America that this young soldier fought and died for. And there are those who still honor that.

__________________
Qui plantavit curabit

That was beautiful. People can indeed be magnificent when motivated.

A very similar true story was recreated in the movie "Taking Chance". It stars Kevin Bacon as a Marine Corps Lt. Col. who volunteered to escort the remains of a fallen Marine enlisted man home. I highly recommend it. It shows the same respect throughout the journey across the United States. I could not stop my tears from flowing as I saw each incident of love and caring. If you can buy or rent this movie, do it. It will reaffirm your faith in America.

John

__________________
- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

That was great to see people like that anymore. It kinda choked me up to watch though.

WOW! I'll be honest, I'm just north of that area and had not heard of that. Beautiful!

__________________
NRA Endowment Member