Monday, October 02, 2006

a mirad of feelings and thoughts

Is that the word? Is that the word to describe today. Mirad. I'm not even sure I know what it fully means and for sake of time, I don't care right now. So I won't google it or dictionary.com it. I'll depend on you all to correct me if I am wrong. Cool? Thanks.
Today I attended my first Fireman's funeral. It was the funeral for Mike Landon, my Fire Fighter One Instructor. And it was powerful. The different emotions I experienced today were powerful. I was in awe. I was in awe of a man who gave all he had towards teaching and training firefighters. A man who was passionate about fire. A man who touched deeply our class, every one he worked and served with, and his family. And it was humbling and powerful to be an actual part in his funeral. He had a full Fireman's funeral where all the firemen stood on both sides to create a line for his casket to pass through and saluted him. He was a navy man also. And at his burial he was given all military privaledges. I wept while watching his daughter and son place dirt on his grave, and then joined my fellow firemen as we all helped cover the grave.
Mike was a special man who always had a smile for me. He was the Assistant Fire Chief at a Hooterite(Amish)village in Cabinet View. And to be at my very first Amish service/funeral was also powerful. They are such simple people. And to allow military rights was super cool. I don't know, it was just a fasinating day.
I was proud to be serving Mike today, honoring his life with others who knew him SO much better than I. I am proud to be a fire fighter. Today, was just extra special.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

You were close, myriad.
Your day sounds very humbling. Thanks for sharing it.

How was your B-day???

Get freaky with anyone or do you save that for Halloween?

Anonymous said...

Where did you go? You are neglecting the Web and all your readers. We hope all is well but don't know since we have not seen any activity from you.

(S)wine said...

it's Myriad.