The Homecoming

Last week, as Tourist Tree and I were traveling in Texas, we were stopped at an intersection just slightly past the Austin airport to make way for a procession.

We did not know what it was but after seeing about 30 police motorcycles leading the way, a hearse, several private cars and a van followed by about 75 Patriot Guard Riders with the Stars and Strips flying from their motorcycles, we had a suspicion that the procession was for a fallen service member.

 

As we were given the go-ahead to proceed with the traffic, we were only a few cars behind the end of the official procession traveling south on TX 185. We were behind it for miles. Along the way, we saw opposing traffic stopped and pulled over to the side of the road as a sign of respect. We saw an elderly gentleman standing by his truck with his wife with his hand saluting the procession. We saw small groups of people come out of their workplaces or homes to stand by the road with flags in their hands.
 
 

The procession turned off from the main street into
Lockhart which was also our destination that day.

At the Funeral home in Lockhart

We learned that it was the homecoming of a fallen Marine. Cpl Cody R. Stanley of Rosanky, TX, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1St Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, CA. He was killed by an IED while on a dismounted patrol supporting combat operations in the Helmand province of Afghanistan on October 28th. He was 21 years old.

The procession was escorting his remains from Austin Airport to the funeral home in Lockhart. The funeral was to be held the day after.

Members of the Patriot Guard and the police escort observed the solemn transfer of the remains of Cpl. Stanley at the funeral home carried out by the Marine escort detail.

 

Both Tourist Tree and I felt privileged to have accidentally run into the procession and to have the opportunity to be part of his escort home. We are grateful for Cpl. Stanley’s sacrifice. Our thoughts are with his family and friends, and the servicemen who are still over there protecting us. A special Bravo Zulu also go to the Patriot Guards for their service. We have seen pictures on the web, we have read about it in newspapers, we have seen the video on Youtube. It never touches you so much until you have witnessed such an event in person. We were honored to have such opportunity. Welcome home, Cpl Stanley. Semper-Fi! Rest in peace.

Cpl. Cody R. Stenley, USMC