In a post yesterday, I posted a winter beach picture from the Gulf of Mexico at Clearwater Beach – somewhat pining for the balmy breezes and amazing winter skylines in Florida. I probably needed the warm thoughts and memories. Here is a picture from today:
A burial/interment at Quantico National Cemetery…just a day in the life. A cold day, but a good day.
Yesterday I was invited to preside at an interment of one of our parishioners. Jack was a long-time parishioner, active in several ministries, and was a retired US Air Force Colonel. His burial was at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. The tradition includes a procession of cars from the Administration Building (with very nice family waiting rooms) to a “transfer point” where we met the marching band and the honor guard. Continue reading
As I have noted here on other occasions, one of the ministries that we Franciscan Friars have is to support families during their interment at Quantico National Cemetery. We often have several interments each week and in the course of the ministry we have met many amazing and wonderful families. Today was no exception. Continue reading
As I have written about before, one of the ministries we are privileged to serve is supporting interments at Quantico National Cemetery. We are the Catholic parish located about 1 mile from Quantico National and are called upon quite often. This week alone I served at four gravesides, accompanying families whose loved one served their country and are now laid to rest – perhaps the service member or the spouse who waited for their return. It is always an honor to serve these families. Continue reading
Earlier this week I presided at a burial interment at Quantico National Cemetery. An 86-old woman was being buried alongside her husband, an Army veteran, who has passed away in the mid-1990s. The woman was born in 1947 in Berlin amidst the destruction and occupation following the war. She met her GI husband and they fell in love. He wanted to remain in Germany, but she wanted to start their new life together in the United States. It is not an uncommon story. Continue reading
Today I celebrated the Rite of Committal for a US Marine Corp veteran. Given our proximity to the Quantico National Cemetery, we are called upon several times a week to assist families with the committal of their loved ones – most often retired service members or their spouses. Sadly, we also serve when an active duty member is interned. They are mostly connected to the Marine Corp, but the hallowed grounds honor members from all branches of the military. Continue reading
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