When you see a Flag on a casket, what do you feel at that moment?

MAJ David Vermillion — Wed, 25 May 2016 09:01:45 -0400

Do you become emotional? Can you express it in words?

Response by CSM Michael Poll made May 25 at 2016 9:21 AM

CSM Michael Poll — Wed, 25 May 2016 09:21:22 -0400

Shear and extreme sorrow.......

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made May 25 at 2016 9:32 AM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Wed, 25 May 2016 09:32:41 -0400

My soul being Torn, A young member of the Armed Forces that died way too young. Even YN1 Shaw the Salty Old Dog of USS California died too early.

Response by CMSgt Mark Schubert made May 25 at 2016 9:38 AM

CMSgt Mark Schubert — Wed, 25 May 2016 09:38:39 -0400

I feel sad for the family members who lost a hero!

Response by SSgt Dan Montague made May 25 at 2016 9:42 AM

SSgt Dan Montague — Wed, 25 May 2016 09:42:57 -0400

I had seen it before and it choked me up. One time in Iraq we were asked to assist with the transfer of 8 fallen angels from a plane to a truck. We lined up outside the aircrafts ramp and rendered honors as they carried them to the truck. The reality hit home then. The hardest part was knowing that one of them was a young 18 year old Marine who just turned 18.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2016 9:51 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 May 2016 09:51:26 -0400

A sadness for the loss to the family and unit.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2016 9:52 AM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 May 2016 09:52:04 -0400

I watched several ceremonies where the caskets are loaded into C-17s in Iraq and Afghanistan. I'm filled with sorrow (for the member and their families) then extreme hate (towards the enemy).

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made May 25 at 2016 10:19 AM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Wed, 25 May 2016 10:19:09 -0400

I definitely do. I still shed a tear when I hear the National Anthem play. Honestly, I feel like a weight is on my shoulders because we've lost one more of our brothers or sisters. Whether we are still in or long since retired, our oath has no expiration.

Response by Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen made May 25 at 2016 10:31 AM

Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen — Wed, 25 May 2016 10:31:41 -0400

Respect and sadness that one of our comrades is no longer with us.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2016 10:33 AM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 May 2016 10:33:38 -0400

Ya know, experiencing this as both a sailor and a family member, I had a plethora of emotions. As a sailor seeing another sailor with a flag draped coffin, I wanted to honor them; provide that I can carry on their legacy and continue to strive to be the best at everything I can. As a family member, it was a good-bye; grief flowed through me. It's like 2 people trying to support one another in one body. I had Katie who was balling her eyes out and CTT2 Wayman, in uniform, standing tall and head high.

It's pretty hard to hold a salute as Taps plays and you are balling your eyes out.

Response by PO3 Sandra Gomke made May 25 at 2016 10:55 AM

PO3 Sandra Gomke — Wed, 25 May 2016 10:55:46 -0400

Respect, sorrow, sympathy and in some ways deep gratitude that it's not my son. Selfish, I know, but truthful. I've been to two military funerals and definitely did not make it through dry eyed. I've watched videos and news reports and have always teared up. And, yes, the Star Spangled Banner gets me every time. But I am not embarrassed by crying. That flag draped coffin has earned my tears.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2016 11:25 AM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 May 2016 11:25:30 -0400

MAJ David Vermillion It saddens me sir, as I know the effect it will have on the family. I am glad that they are being honored for their sacrifice. I think of my father and uncles, and also think about fallen brothers and sisters.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made May 25 at 2016 12:21 PM

SSG Warren Swan — Wed, 25 May 2016 12:21:30 -0400

Anger and Happiness. I see another Brother or Sister gone (Anger), but they're where I hope to be later on when my time is up. They have no pain anymore. They're at peace (Happiness). What is really burning my mind is that soon all the WWII vets will be gone, and as is most still aren't known by the younger generations, and the Korea and Nam vets are aging too, and soon they too will be a memory. I'm lucky to have been able to personally know someone from every conflict starting from WWII on. What does that say for us?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2016 12:41 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 May 2016 12:41:13 -0400

Sadness, their family, a lump in my throat, honor, and bravery. I always give a slow hand salute.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2016 12:46 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 May 2016 12:46:34 -0400

Did you know that in Vietnam, drugs were hidden in some of the boxes the KIA was in? I have a friend who worked that detail, prepping them for their ride home. The drug dealers had contacts here in the US to remove the drugs. I do not know this is true, but he was a responsible, truthful person.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made May 25 at 2016 1:06 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Wed, 25 May 2016 13:06:20 -0400

Loss of another brother.

Response by LTJG Don Biscoe made May 25 at 2016 1:14 PM

LTJG Don Biscoe — Wed, 25 May 2016 13:14:23 -0400

Extreme respect and reverence. That that soldier or sailor gave his/ her life so that my family and me can live in peace and ensured me the right to criticize our leaders, pursue happiness, and enjoy freedoms many in the world can only imagine. I ask that THIS Memorial Day that each one of us, at the very least, stop for a minute and remember those who kept us free.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2016 2:59 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 May 2016 14:59:26 -0400

I feel for the families of the person under the flag. I have three properly folded flags, dad step dad and step son. I also always think of them.

Response by Cpl Kevin Osborne made May 25 at 2016 3:08 PM

Cpl Kevin Osborne — Wed, 25 May 2016 15:08:31 -0400

Gratitude as well as sorrow for the ones they are leaving behind.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2016 3:14 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 May 2016 15:14:18 -0400

Respect, sorrow and a sense of loss, in 06 I joined the PGR my first ceremony was an honor and remember for 2 young service members who died in Afg. I found I couldn't sit through the ceremony in the church so quietly stepped into the foyer where they had their uniforms laid out with pictures. My heart was so heavy I tried to reason with my self, they weren't my soldiers, I didn't know them and wouldn't have. As I tried to talk myself down one of the soldiers fathers put a hand on my shoulder and said thank you. That was it the water works started. Why would he thank me I thought, I couldn't imagine his loss, and as a parent feared it, in here for him not the opposite. That was also my last PGR Ceremony

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2016 9:47 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 May 2016 21:47:34 -0400

Yes I get emotional even today when our women and men return from the Middle East. When the anvil passes my tongue and explodes in my gut, I wonder just WHY. The first time I went to the wall in DC, I made it all the way through. At the end then I saw an SFC holding his son and the son was wondering why his dad was crying, the anvil gained 20 lbs.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 26 at 2016 7:55 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 May 2016 07:55:09 -0400

sadness and sometimes wish that it was me instead of them , like I haven't done enough in my life