I wish to thank all of the Navy personnel who helped me and my family through a very trying time. On July 11 my husband passed away. Being a former Navy pilot in World War II, my family and I thought a military service would be appropriate.
I called the Navy Base and they were extremely polite and said they would send me a packet of information to let me know what to expect, which they did. In the meantime, the Evergreen Funeral Home had also contacted the Navy and informed me that the chaplain would be Commander Fred Zoeller, but they could not locate a bugler that would be available.
Chaplain Zoeller called me a day or two later and asked me to write out some things that were important to the family. We talked for a while and he then asked if everything was going OK and if I needed anything to let him know. I mentioned that we could not get a bugler to play Taps and a compact disc would have to be used. The Navy did not have a lot of time to put this together and I truly appreciated all their efforts.
The day of the services, I met Chaplain Zoeller and we talked about my husband’s life as I had written it. He gave a wonderful service in the chapel and then we proceeded to the graveside. The Navy was present and there was a live bugler! There was an escort for me, an honor guard for the gun salute and two young men to fold the flag as it was taken from the coffin.
The folding of the flag was remarkable in its perfection. The presentation of the flag to me was done by MM2 Jimmy Weaver (also my escort) and extremely well done and very touching. The bugler could not have been better. There was a three-gun salute and just before the services were over one of the honor guards presented me with three empty shells from the salute.
It was a very impressive service and my family and I truly thank all the young men and the Navy for allowing this to happen. Thank you Chaplain Zoeller, MM2 Jimmy Weaver, EM2 Jack Harris, AN Jose Fernandez, FN Klein, GSEFN Jason Cutter, AE3 Adam Lysene, ETSN Michael Morton. A job well done!
Everett
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