There is a lot to be said for growing up in a small town in Texas. The service itself was impressive with wonderful flowers and sprays, a portrait of James, his uniform and boots, his awards and ribbons. There was lots of military brass and an eloquent (though inappropriately longwinded) Baptist preacher. There were easily 1000 people at the service, filling the church sanctuary as well as the fellowship hall and spilling out into the parking lot.
However, the most incredible thing was what happened following the service on the way to the cemetery. We went to our cars and drove to the cemetery escorted by at least 10 police cars with lights flashing and some other emergency vehicles, with Texas Rangers handling traffic. Everyone on the road who was not in the procession, pulled over, got out of their cars, and stood silently and respectfully, some put their hands over their hearts.
When we turned off the highway suddenly there were teenage boys along both sides of the street about every 20 feet or so, all holding large American flags on long flag poles, and again with their hands on their hearts. We thought at first it was the Boy Scouts or 4H club or something, but it continued …. for two and a half miles. Hundreds of young people, standing silently on the side of the road with flags. At one point we passed an elementary school, and all the children were outside, shoulder to shoulder holding flags . kindergartners, handicapped, teachers, staff, everyone. Some held signs of love and support. Then came teenage girls and younger boys, all holding flags. Then adults. Then families. All standing silently on the side of the road. No one spoke, not even the very young children.
The military presence..at least two generals, a fist full of colonels, and representatives from every branch of the service, plus the color guard which attended James, and some who served with him … was very impressive and respectful, but the love and pride from this community who had lost one of their own was the most amazing thing I’ve ever been privileged to witness
Yes, I grew up in a small town in the South.
And, yes, I became an English teacher, and I do indeed recognize what you have written as a beautiful and moving piece of prose.
And, yes, I would like to see more of that kind of writing from you. But I’ve had to be very patient to find it.
And, yes, I’m glad James and his family received the respect they deserve, and I hope that his wife and child receive not only sympathy, but continuing support from all Americans.
And, yes, I’m very glad that that homophobic church that’s staging protests at the funerals of some of our loyal troops failed to make it to this small town in Texas.
And, yes, I know that there will be "wars and wars and rumors of wars," time without end. And I know the USA will always have to defend itself and its freedoms–our way of life. And I hope we always honor and respect those who choose the military for whatever reason. In this age, they will always be needed.
And, yes, I hope you can hear all of this from me, an old-fashioned Eisenhower Republican who thinks of himself as a moderate and an evangelical Christian but is often labeled "a *** liberal." Even though we may disagree on the wisdom of this war and the decisions of the Pentagon in how it was waged, I hope you can hear me. Even though you may not understand why I am so desperately fearful of what is happening to this country under this administration, I hope you can still hear me.
Yes, I grew up in a small town. I learned to say the "play-jaleejance" in the first grade, long before I knew what it meant and before "under God" was added to it. I took great pride as a youngster when I was chosen to raise the flag on the school grounds in the morning and retrieve it if we saw a rain shower coming up and before we left the school and darkness descended. I was one of those 4-Hers who, at the beginning of every meeting, pledged head, heart, hands, and health "for my club, my community, and my country," before "my world" was so wisely added to the end of that list. I grew up in a Christian family (fundamentalists, we would be called these days), attended a Christian school, married a Christian woman, and raised a Christian family (though I also raised them to be independent thinkers, and now they all have their own deeply held interpretations of what Christ stood for and what the Bible means). And, yes, I still consider myself a small-town Christian, and I have asked that my ashes be buried in a little cemetery not too very far from where I was born and my kinfolk lie.
Yes, I salute the memory of James. And I salute you for describing his memorial so gracefully.
Yes, I am what is called a "senior citizen" now. And, yes, I hope my children enjoy the blessings I have enjoyed during my long life, and I hope that they inherit the "free" country that I inherited with the reforms of the 20th century that gave common folk like me the opportunity to succeed in the way that I did.
And, yes, I admit that I am fearful about the future, but I hope and pray that James’s child (and perhaps your children, if you have them) and my grandchildren may inherit this "free" and safe country.
God bless us everyone!
Insider look at Grand Rapids,MI first Hip Hop Church
The Bishop preached an awesome message! And I saw the dead small and great, stand before God; and books were opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which was written in the books, according to their works.
From the outside, James Omar Clea appears to be a God loving man. Clea posted sermons from Bishop Allen Simmons in his My Space page. He writes in his bio that he spoke in tongues by 13, and was called to preach at fifteen. He neglected to mention his conviction in 2008- to armed robbery. 
The true church of God is the body of Christ, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The majority of church organizations and ministries practice witchcraft to control members.
Trinity Episcopal Church, Columbus, OH, Join us in worship, in fellowship, and in service to others. We’re “A House of Prayer for All People.”
LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN BIBLE CHURCH CELEBRATES FATHER’S DAY 2009
Bishop Rudolph McKissick preaches at Mount Calvary Holy Churches of America Morning Glory.