Final Good-Bye

We attended the funeral of our friend, 2nd Lt. Darryn Andrews, this past Saturday in Cameron, Tx. He was killed in Afghanistan on September 4, 2009 while protecting 3 other soldiers from a rocket-launched grenade. The funeral services were almost more than we could bear and I don't feel the need to relive the events here, however, I would like to say one thing. Whatever your feelings about the war and Operation Enduring Freedom and whatever your political beliefs, honor the soldiers who lose their lives and the families that grieve for them. This is not a forum for political debate and though everyone is perfectly entitled to their opinions and beliefs, there is a time and place to voice your opinions and/or protests and the funeral of a fallen soldier IS NOT one of them. Enough said? I think so.


Moving on, we were absolutely floored at the patriotism shown for Darryn and his family. People lined the roadways all the way from the small airport in College Station to the funeral home in Cameron in the unrelenting rain to salute and wave the American flag as his flag draped coffin passed by. Breathtaking. And the Patriot Guard Riders stood surrounding the church, standing at attention, holding their flags as the rain came down for hours. Breathtaking.

Darryn was buried today at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio complete with a horse-drawn caisson and 21-gun salute. We did not attend the burial and to be honest, I'm not sure my heart could have taken it. I displayed enough of the "ugly cry" at the church on Saturday.

Darryn leaves behind his wife, Julie, his son, Daylan, who turned 2 just three days after Darryn died, and a daughter who is due in December. Breathtaking.

We miss you, Darryn, but know that you have found peace and happiness beyond your wildest dreams. We will never forget.