Faith Restored...

By Semperpapa

...at least a little bit of it.

The mission for LCpl. Centanni started at 0800 this morning and concluded about 1600 at Riverside National Cemetery. Long day, a little taxing on the old body, but an exhilarating experience in of itself.

It sure was uplifting to see the hundreds of people who came to pay respect to the memory of Rick and to his father and mother: family and friends and law enforcement officers, who took the time to memorialize this young man of 19, who gave his life for our country, having accomplished so much already in such a short time.

And it was uplifting to see so many Patriot Guards who also took the time to not only pay their respects to Rick’s family and to the Military, but who also showed up in force to insure that no unwanted “disturbance” was going to disrupt the service.

The scum from the WBC had sent messages out to protest this event and there was a potential for some miscreant follower of theirs to try. But it did not happen.

What did happen instead, was something that truly made me happy and hopeful: thousands of people lining the streets of Yorba Linda, California, waving American Flags, with signs of praise for Rick Centanni and support for his grieving family.

And as I was riding with my brothers and sisters of the Patriot Guards, I witnessed the outpour of love from perfect strangers toward this family who had paid such high price for the liberties we enjoy.
People of all ages, some older ones saluting as the sea of flags waved in the warm California wind, most with their hands on their hearts.
Then the trip to Riverside National Cemetery, on a freeway that is usually very busy, but today empty thanks to the excellent work of motor officers from countless jurisdictions.
People on the overpasses on the freeway, waving their American Flags as we moved toward RNC. There were even electronic billboards, visible from the highway, flashing LCpl. Rick Centanni’s young smiling face and declaring to all what an incredible young man this was.

And in the mist of all, I kept on asking myself if this was really California!
In the countless similar missions I participated in with the PGR, I can only remember one other where the populace had actually openly expressed such level of devotion toward our Fallen.
Most of the time we get attitude as we may inconvenience someone on the road by asking to be delayed few minutes as we try to escort another American Hero to his/her final destination.

But today, a little of my faith in the common American civilian has been restored, just another accomplishment of a true American Hero: USMC LCpl. Rick Centanni.

May he rest in Peace.

Just my thoughts.