Abilene ensures no veteran is left behind
The lines leading up to the Texas Veterans Cemetery at Abilene were long Monday as cars pulled off onto the shoulder to wait for their entrance. The expansive driveway that circled the cemetery was already full of cars 15 minutes before the start time for the services.
Clouds dotted the bright blue sky as tears welled up in many an onlookers' eyes.
There were veterans biker groups, television media, radio media and concerned citizens — citizens who were concerned that a veteran's funeral would be unattended by any friends or family members.
As they pulled U.S. Marine Corps veteran Bob G. Wood's casket from the back of a van and draped the American flag over it, many appeared as though their hearts were heavy with sorrow for this man but also pride in our city.
Abilene could never forget a hero.
Abilene doesn't forget
The Texas Veterans State Cemetery at Abilene put out the call on social media just four days before the unaccompanied funeral was to take place.
"We do NOT leave Texas Veterans behind," the original post said.
Abilenians heard the call and came out in full force on Monday, with parking spilling over outside the cemetery gates.
One could see grandmothers with their grandchildren, friends, mothers and young children and veterans young and old standing quietly in the bright sunshine.
Before the ceremony began, there was a military fly-over with six planes.
As the planes crossed the pavilion, one plane peeled off from the others to symbolize the veteran crossing over to the other side.
One could hear the sounds of tears throughout the crowd as military members stood at attention and saluted.
Unaccompanied no more
"Some people wonder all their lives if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem," Ronald Reagan said.
This quote reverberated throughout the crowd as the master of ceremony said that it applies to all veterans, especially those who have given the ultimate sacrifice.
He also reminded the growing crowd that that quote applied to all veterans and that no rich man could buy his way into the Texas Veterans State Cemetery at Abilene, which is the final resting place for everyone from privates to generals.
While the all-call had gone out to Abilene as an unaccompanied funeral, however, some relatives of Wood were in attendance after hearing about it through the local broadcast media.
They sat reverently in the front as the military funeral song, Taps, played across the cemetery.
As two young Marines began to fold the flag that had laid atop the casket, a breeze blew through the pavilion, and one could only hope that Wood was finally at peace.
Veterans and well-wishers touched the casket in reverence and shook hands with Wood's family after the ceremony.
Upon leaving the pavilion, a wife was sitting on her husband's grave across the expansive cemetery, and an older veteran was sitting on a bench likely looking at his friends who had passed.
The turnout for Wood's funeral showed Abilene remembers and leaves no veteran behind.
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This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Abilene ensures no veteran is left behind
