The Things that Carried Him

  • Gives background on Collins that reveals his history with Funeral Homes, the process, and his preference of staying outside.
  • Lays out that the story is taking place in May and he is beginning a new cut.
  • Making strategic decisions because of circumstances of this grave, but leaves open ended.
  • The grave is being prepared for a military ceremony. The group of soldiers are practicing their duties for the burial. The men are all quite different.
  • Don Collin’s father is leading the motorcade of the procession
  • The coffin is a special kind just for Iraqi soldiers killed in war, The coffin is also decorated specified to the soldier with pictures of friends and moment of the war.
  • The ceremony went as planned with the ceremonial firing of the guns
  • Bugler performed but shows the rarity of the role of the burglar
  • Background on the bugler and how it can be effected
  • “In my opinion, you can’t close your eyes. There’s a person in a casket in front of you. You want to give them as much as you can.”
  • The hardship of performing the ceremony is expressed especially when the soldier is so young
  • The soldier had children
  • The ceremony proceeds with folding the flag.
  • The flag is given to a 52 year-old woman (mother?)
  • General officer says when assigned a funeral, “”You’re never not available.”
  • The General connected with the wife: Missy.
  • Pinckney gets emotional at ceremony and reflects on if her son was in the same position, andre (27)
  • history behind the flag: 13 folds for 13 colonies
  • Ceremony is over and things progress, casket lowered into ground.
  • Tombstone not prepared yet for SGT. Joe Montgomery
  • Gail Bond reflects on past with Joe.