Ba-Ba's Funeral

This morning we got ready to go to Ba-Ba's funeral, and that involved a tiny bit of scrambling, but not too much.  Uncle George and I went to a florist in downtown Daytona Beach, returning to join the others who were dressing up for the ceremony.  Soon enough, we were on the road driving southward about forty-five minutes to Cape Canaveral National Cemetery.

Here's the surprise for Nana, Mommy and Madison.  Pastor Lance and Pastor Tucker drove all the way down here to attend the ceremony.  The church vehicle rolled up in place, and Mommy was trying to figure out who it was that had just pulled up in the lane that was designated for our service.  Even after Pastor Lance and Pastor Tucker got out of the car, she was still squinting her eyes trying to figure out who it was.  It just didn't occur to her that they would drive so far just to be here with us, but of course there was that moment that it dawned on her, and it was an emotional reunion.  Nana kept saying throughout the day, over and over again, "I can't believe they came all this way to see be here with us."  There were hugs, conversations, and soon enough, a departure towards the shelter where the ceremony would take place. 

The flags were half-mast today I believe due to the passing of a Supreme Court Justice, but it was certainly appropriate for our beloved father, who was a hero in every sense of the word.

Here is the urn that contain his remains, placed on a platform in the shelter.  These were picked up yesterday from the funeral home, and brought to the cemetery this morning along with the flowers.

You can see the setting here, the emblems of the branches of the Armed Forces on the wall behind.  Due to the current pandemic, there were only allowed ten guests at the ceremony, the remaining visitors asked to wait some distance away.  But it worked out today that we had exactly ten visitors.  We sat in the two rows there, obviously with Nana and Mommy in the front, alongside Madison and Uncle George.  And then, the flag was brought in.

There is so much precision to this ceremony, and so much reverence.  It's a very moving moment, as the soldiers there fold the flag with care, preparing it and presenting it to Nana.
 

It was intensely moving as the soldiers approached Nana, and in such a profound moment, they told her these words:  "On behalf of the President of the United States, the United States Air Force, and a grateful nation, please accept this flag as a symbol of our appreciation for your loved ones honorable and faithful service." 

And then the salute.  Nearly indescribable in the way respect was paid, this one salute meant so much to us.  It meant everything.  It has been many years since Ba-Ba has served, and yet this profound moment was such a reminder of the gratitude and appreciation of our nation for his service.

After the presentation, Pastor Lance spoke, and God Himself set this up.  We had no speaker.  We didn't have time to make arrangements, and honestly I don't like it as much when a complete stranger comes up to speak about the deceased, having no idea who that person is or was.  In this case, Pastor Lance knew Ba-Ba very well.  They played tennis together recently, and of he knows Nana and the family very well.  Nana was so happy to have him come and share a few words, which he was happy to do for us.  We spoke about it yesterday, and I was making sure this could happen, and was glad it was actually very easy to set up.  We had a few moments, and Pastor Lance spoke from his heart, uplifting and encouraging us, and adding so much to this ceremony.

He even sang "Amazing Grace" with us.  I can't even express how overwhelmed we were to see them here at the ceremony.  Camille and her mother were overwhelming last week too, watching over Madison and staying with her at our house.  Many times I've thought about Ba-Ba, how he "didn't deserve this," and not being able to understand why it happened.  And yet all this:  we didn't deserve this amount of overwhelming love.  And yes, I can't understand it either.  I mean, I sort of do.  But I can't fully grasp this kind of love.  It's the kind of love that only God can share, a love that is so immense that you can't explain it, understand it, or ever put an actual value on it.  It's a gift of such remarkable grace, and all we can do is sit back and receive it, and marvel at God's goodness.

Pastor Tucker spoke for a few moments too, about Jeremiah 29:11, and led us in the Lord's Prayer as well. He and Lance made the trip last night, spending the night at Cape Canaveral, and then joining us for the ceremony this afternoon.  

Nana appreciated it so much.  After the ceremony we went over to the actual internment, seeing the location where Ba-Ba would be placed.

We sat and watched the grounds crew putting the urn inside his place on the top row.  You can find the location very easily.  Just look for "B4."  As in, we've been there "before."  Nana was saying that Ba-Ba would be very happy to have a place at the top there.  He wouldn't have it any other way!

She had friends show up here as well, and they too came a good distance, although not as far as our friends from Georgia.  Nevertheless, they did come a great ways and spent a good deal of time with us this afternoon, and that was so amazingly thoughtful.  These girls used to play tennis with Ba-Ba and Nana, and shared a lot of memories and laughs.  They were happy to be here to join us.

Mommy arranged a good deal of the flowers there at the bottom, carefully arranging what she could.  It wasn't all of them, as we got a lot of flowers for the ceremony.  But we did leave all the red roses and other flowers, taking the rest of them home with us.

Afterwards, we posed for a few pictures and spoke with each other for a good while.  It was warm out there, because it is Florida.  But it was overcast, and breezy as well.  In other words, it was comfortable, and not the blazing heat that we can expect from time to time in this state.

In the end, Nana was quite content with the location and the ceremony itself.  It was very nice, and I think made so much better with the arrival of additional friends who shared their love.

Pastor Tucker was there with Madison afterwards, as was Pastor Lance.  There were times that we all were filled with grief, moved to tears, and as you can see above, how nice it was to have a loving friend nearby, one there to help us share in our sadness.

Pastor Lance and Pastor Tucker came all this way for us, and it was one of the kindest gestures we've ever received.  

Tucker and Madison were talking about taekwondo a bit, and of course he's one of her instructors at Edge ATA as well, so it was nice to have him there in duel roles, as KidPak pastor and taekwondo instructor.  Madison was talking about not being able to do any kicks because of her dress there.

Afterwards, we drove up the road to Port Orange, stopping at an Olive Garden there for a nice meal together.  Uncle George paid for it all, treating everyone to a delicious meal together that was more than just food. The staff there knew we were just coming from a funeral, and treated us very well.  The food was super delicious, and the conversation was rich and filled with laughter and joy.  It was just what we needed in every way.  It was a wonderful and memorable meal together.  

We said our goodbyes to Lance and Tucker, who got on the road right after this and had to make the eight hour journey back home.  How grateful we are for them.  We ourselves went back home and got changed, and spent the rest of the day relaxing.  We even spent a few moments at dusk, walking the beach again.

It was a perfect time to talk and reflect, and do a bit of planning the next steps of course.  But the weather was just right.

Lots of seagulls along the shoreline this evening, and a lot of sandpipers too.  Not as many actual people though, and that was nice.  The clouds were there, but not in a menacing way suggesting any thick amounts of rain were on the way.  Nothing dramatic like that, and yet there was the same serene sense of peace about the ocean, the calming waves and the warmer waters splashing up and over our feet.

Mommy and Uncle George both took this time to just walk along the shoreline, thinking and reflecting, and hopefully healing. 

As the sun set, we headed back northward again towards the condo.  These last two trips, we've walked southward, whereas we usually do the trip north.  I think this has to do with the turtle nests that are more prevalent to the north during that season.  There aren't any nests to speak of right now, so we walked south instead.  The shoreline view is all the same, of course.  

The birds have been hanging out here a lot lately, as has the sargassum.  That's the seaweed stirred up by storms and washed ashore.  It's good for the beach and ocean area here, although it sort of gives the bay areas a brown color that makes it look like a stirred up lake.

Madison was enjoying her walk alone as well.  Despite being ready to move on from Florida, walks like these are good for her - and us.  She was taking photos with her phone today, and oh - there was a bit of bird chasing too.

Yes, that's Uncle George.  He and Madison were chasing the seagulls a few times, just relaxing along the beach as Mommy and I took a nice quiet stroll.  In the end, we all stopped to take a look at the pastel sunset one more time before heading back into the condo to join Nana.

It was a good day.  It was a sad day, but within these seasons of immense sadness there are moments where an incalculable love rises up to meet that grief, balancing out the waves of emotions, and settling our spirits with a sense of peace.  Yes, God is in control, and yes everything does work out for the benefit of those that love the Lord.  We'll be okay.

Tonight we watched a movie together, all five of us in the condo.  It was "Enola Holmes," and everyone rather enjoyed the distraction.  Actually, it was a fairly decent movie.  We said our prayers tonight, and read as always before heading off to sleep.  That part came easy tonight.