This message has nothing to do with abortion -- but it's
very touching.

What follows is a message from Vicki Pierce about her
nephew James' funeral (he was serving our country in Iraq):

______________________________________________________________________

"I'm back, it was certainly a quick trip, but I have to also
say it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life.
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 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, some had small flags. Shop keepers came outside with
their customers and did the same thing. Construction workers
stopped their work, got off their equipment and put their hands
over their hearts, too. There was no noise whatsoever except a
few birds and the quiet hum of cars going slowly up the road.

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 elemen-
tary 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 last few turns found
people crowded together holding flags or with their hands on their
hearts. Some were on horseback.

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.

ALL I CAN SAY IS "GOD BLESS TEXAS !"

______________________________________________________________________

Folks sometimes say Texans are different. I guess we are.

This message has nothing to do with abortion -- but it's
very touching.

What follows is a message from Vicki Pierce about her
nephew James' funeral (he was serving our country in Iraq):

______________________________________________________________________

"I'm back, it was certainly a quick trip, but I have to also
say it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life.
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 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, some had small flags. Shop keepers came outside with
their customers and did the same thing. Construction workers
stopped their work, got off their equipment and put their hands
over their hearts, too. There was no noise whatsoever except a
few birds and the quiet hum of cars going slowly up the road.

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 elemen-
tary 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 last few turns found
people crowded together holding flags or with their hands on their
hearts. Some were on horseback.

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.

ALL I CAN SAY IS "GOD BLESS TEXAS !"

______________________________________________________________________

Folks sometimes say Texans are different. I guess we are.

This message has nothing to do with abortion -- but it's
very touching.

What follows is a message from Vicki Pierce about her
nephew James' funeral (he was serving our country in Iraq):

______________________________________________________________________

"I'm back, it was certainly a quick trip, but I have to also
say it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life.
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 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, some had small flags. Shop keepers came outside with
their customers and did the same thing. Construction workers
stopped their work, got off their equipment and put their hands
over their hearts, too. There was no noise whatsoever except a
few birds and the quiet hum of cars going slowly up the road.

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 elemen-
tary 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 last few turns found
people crowded together holding flags or with their hands on their
hearts. Some were on horseback.

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.

ALL I CAN SAY IS "GOD BLESS TEXAS !"

______________________________________________________________________

Folks sometimes say Texans are different. I guess we are.