This past week was a rough one. We made a trip to Arlington, Virginia to say our good-byes to Grandma (great gramma for Allie). She had been very sick for a while and is resting peacefully without any pain now. My grandfather was a Master Sergent in the USMC and served in WW2, Vietnam and Korea. He is still living, but they had decided together that they wanted to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery! We went this past week to honor that wish. The whole experience was a very neat last memory of Grandma. The amount of respect shown was UNBELIEVABLE! My grandma was a huge supporter of my grandfather and was such a strong woman! I can't imagine being a single mom while my husband was away serving our country! They were married for 56 years and were so cute together! There are lots of really fun memories! The service at Arlington was a great tribute to her life as a Marine wife! I had been there when we were in 8th grade, but going back at 30 was really different. We went to the main building and waited in a waiting room (impressive in itself) for the Chaplin to come. While we were there, they had a TV with a live feed of the Changing of the Guard. It was so humbling to think that all the people who were buried there had served our country at one time and helped to give us the freedoms we have today. I had such an overwhelming feeling of amazement. When it was our turn, (They do four services each hour (usually 30 a day) but you would never know that others were happening while yours was.) we made our way to her resting place. It was impressive because there were four Marines who were the pallbearers and they were in perfect step and motions. They carried the casket way high above and strattled the row of markers. It was a very respectful walk to her site. Then as quickly as they came- they also left- again in perfect step and with the most respect possible. The service was a quick but powerful one, and much respect was shown to my grandmother and my grandfather. The Chaplin ended by saluting my grandfather and telling him Seimper-Fi (sp?) - which I later found out is the Marine Motto and means "Always Faithful". (A true speaking of my grandmother for sure!) (Brought chills to me when I heard what it meant!)
After the service, we decided to drive the short drive over the Memorial Bridge and into DC. I was so proud of hubby because he drove like he owned the place! :) He had his map and knew the route he wanted to take. There was traffic, but he didn't let it intimidate him or make him nervous (although later, I found out his hand was very tense and tight from gripping the wheel so tightly!) :) He took us through the town and we saw many of the famous buildings.... Jefferson Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, Treasury Building, Capital Hill, Smithsonian, Library of Congress, Front AND Back of the White House, and many more. I snapped pictures as we were driving through.
Following this, we began the drive home. We drove through the mountains of Maryland and through weather typical of home. WE had intense fog, heavy rain, blinding sun off the wet roads, snow in the mountains and the most gorgeous rainbows ever! It was amazing because there were four vehicles traveling together- (but not together.... we were all headed home, but in different areas and times)... Three of the four vehicles saw the most brilliant, huge rainbows we've ever seen, and realized it was all around the same time. My mom texted my aunt who was back home and told her that we all three saw these rainbows and how neat it was following my grandmother's service. We thought it was a sign from God that Grandma was with Him and she was looking down on us. Almost as soon as she texted this, my aunt called my mom to tell her that she was doing some running and came out of a store and had grandma on her mind and was feeling bad because she couldn't go along, and she looks up and sees the most brilliant rainbow ever. (and it wasn't even raining here at home!!!!) She said she thought maybe it was God telling her it was ok that she couldn't go- but then when she heard that we all saw one too- was totally in Awe and knew that it was a God thing!!! SO COOL!!!! Some might disagree- but we all know that there is no other explanation! God is with us always!
Here are some pictures of the two day trip... I left out some of the more personal ones- but you can get the idea. :)
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