The clip-clop of the horse drawn caisson, window curtains parted revealing the flag draped coffin inside.

 

Salty old Submariners trying to say the dust kicked up by the wind was causing their eyes to water… just a little bit.

 

The wind buffeting U.S. Flags, making them snap proudly like the Ensign from the mast of haze gray destroyer cutting through a bow-on sea.

 

Hundreds of people, including the Governor and Governor Elect of Colorado, attended the funeral of HM3 Christopher A. Anderson, who was killed by a mortar round in Anbar Province, Iraq, on December 4, 2006.  He was the U.S. Navy corpsman assigned to the 1^st Battalion, 6^th Marines, 2^nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic, based in Camp Lejeune, N.C.

 

An estimated 200-300 flags staunchly held by leather covered ‘Bikers’, children, citizens, veterans in full dress uniforms… or parts of a uniform from a long time ago; a marine with 3 purple hearts, and yes, also… the Rocky Mountain Submarine Veterans.

 

A patch on the vest of one burley Biker from the Patriot Guard Riders read “I Wasn’t There… But I Still Care” (meaning he was not a veteran).  Well… he was sure there Saturday, and the Sub Vets were too; Paul Schultz, Chuck Grimes (WW-II Sub Vet), Bill Staab, Gene Kellar Bruce Marsden, Carla Gerle and Bob Gerle, representing the Rocky Mountain Submarine Veterans.

 

We Submariners may have been a small contingent, but we had one of the largest flags, a whopping 4 ft. by 8 ft. Ensign rigged by Paul Schultz on two 8 ft. poles.  As flag bearers we were not only honoring one of our own, but were also shielding the funeral procession from potential hecklers of the Westboro Baptist Church, Topeka, Kansas.

 

As the procession drew into the parking lot of the Grace Evangelical Free Church, Longmont, Colorado, we were cold, our hands were numb, our knees and backs ached from bracing the flags against the wind for several hours… but we also opined it was small discomfort compared to the ultimate sacrifice young Anderson made.  We stood fast outside the church, while inside; the Purple Heart awarded to Anderson was presented to his father, a retired Navy SEAL.  We were honored to even be there.  We wish it never happened.

 

Petty Officer Anderson will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery.

 

Bravo Zulu to the Patriot Guard Riders for organizing the flag-shielding, a most patriotic and somber event.  Please visit their website at http://www.patriotguard.org/

 

For more information on the Westboro Baptist Church go to http://www.godhatesfags.com.