Rest in peace

This job is not easy. I've had a few assignments that even after they have gone to press, you never forget about them.

Yesterday, I was one of the people in the crowd who stood along the National Avenue when they brought Marine Cpl. Gregory Scott Stultz home. I wanted to pay my respects to a family who lost a loved one and for a young man who died so far from home. While standing next to students from Forest Park Elementary, I noticed the quiet of students. I'm in the schools everyday, I can tell you from personal experience that it takes some encouragement from teachers and Instructional Assistants for students to stay calm. But not this day. They were quiet and patiently waiting in the cold.

Then I looked around. It was freezing, and I was wearing a few layers of clothes, but it was quiet. Some people had tears in their eyes, others stood holding posters or flags but everyone was quiet. I have never been in a crowd so large where it was so quiet. I took the photos for the paper and stood patiently waiting, giving hugs to people I knew.

After the motorcade passed and the crowd began to disperse, I stood on the steps of the Clay County Historical Society Museum and stared at the giant flag flying in the cold wind between the two fire trucks.

I thought about all the people who have died and those that are still far from home. I thought of my cousin who spent four years in the Marines. He was stationed in Iraq at one point and there wasn't a family gathering or holiday that went by when a special prayer wasn't said for his safe return. Thankfully, Jeremy is home and safe in Crawfordsville, but it didn't take a lot for me to tear up at the thought of him dying overseas for a country he loves.

I can't imagine what the family of the fallen serviceman is going through but my thoughts are with them.

Rest in peace Cpl. Stultz.