Things That Carried Him
Paragraph 1: The opening paragraph gives a brief description of Don Collins and sets up an anecdotal scene at the burial grounds.
Paragraph 2: The second paragraph continues with the anecdotal scene at the burial grounds and it also provides background information about Don Collins and how he grew up in a funeral home. This information helps the reader feel more personally connected to the protagonist.
Paragraph 3: This paragraph also helps set the scene of the story by describing the weather. It describes how he prepares to dig the hole and then leads into him starting to dog the hole that it described in the next paragraph.
Paragraph 4: Describes the steps he takes to dig the hole and also lists some of supplies he used to give the reader a better understanding of what is needed and how much work it takes.
Paragraph 5: This paragraph gives a real life dates example of what Don Collins could experience of any day out there in the graveyard. He rests on the tombstone, observing a funeral going on. The small details lead to me that this was a scene that the author observed on his own along with Don Collins.
Paragraph 6: Describes the soldiers and the hearse at the military funeral
Paragraph 7: Continues to describe the hearse and follows it through its journey from the funeral service to the graveyard
Paragraph 8: Describes the body’s journey from the hearse to the vault that was built specifically for Iraq soldiers. Also gives a little background information on the on Iraq, at the time.
Paragraph 9: The story then goes into the start of the burial ceremony. Describing the music being played in the background and a train passing by
Paragraph 10: Background info on proper military burial procedures and gives some perspectives on the soldiers’ role
Paragraph 11: Introduces readers to the character of Leatherbee and some brief history on buglers like him
Paragraph 12: Continues with Leatherbee and touches on the song he was playing at the military funeral. The author continues to give background info and history of buglers and uses music terminology to better set the scene.
Paragraph 13: The author uses his first direct quote, taken from Leatherbee describing his back and forth emotions during the ceremony
Paragraph 14: The author uses a quote from Sergeant Chris Bastille, who gives shares his experiences with military memorials.
Paragraph 15: Huber says, “He had a few kids.”
Paragraph 16: How the soldiers fold the flag during the ceremony and a quote from Dawson
Paragraph 17: The author writes about the flag folds and the sea shells that are folded inside
Paragraph 18: The flag was folded and handed to wife?
Paragraph 19: The Army’s Chief of Staff attends every funeral of a Iraq/Afghanistan soldier and is quoted that she does not like to keep count.
Paragraph 20: Missie, the soldiers wife, is trying to keep her composure at the funeral
Paragraph 21: Quotes from Pinckney about how emotional and difficult these funerals are
Paragraph 22: The history of the 13 folds
Paragraph 23: What Pickney recited to Missie as he hands her the flag
Paragraph 24: The end of the ceremony and everyone’s departure
Paragraph 25: Back to Don Collins and the burial site. The name on the tombstone
Paragraph 26: Gail Bond losing her son Joey
Paragraph 27: Background information about Gail and how she is grieving
Paragraph 28: Gail and all the deaths she has experienced from people close to her
Paragraph 29: Joe’s family and loved ones that were at the funeral
Paragraph 30: Others that attended the funeral and why
Paragraph 31: Why Joey was so loved
Paragraph 32: Perspectives of troopers that led the funeral
Paragraph 33: The long procession line
Paragraph 34: Patriot Guard Rider Tim Barclay gives his experience
Paragraph 35: Background info on The Patriot Guard
Paragraph 36: Connecting the Barclay Brothers, Don Collins and Missie
Paragraph 37: Gail and her brother Bill driving to the funeral trying to control their emotions
Paragraph 38: Vicki gives quote about people crying for you