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An Honorable Farewell |
On February 22, 2005, during the evening viewing, it was standing room only, with the line extending out the door and down the stairs of the Failla Funeral Home in Hoboken. Those who came to pay their final respects included: The Honorable David Roberts, Mayor of Hoboken Steve Cappiello, former Mayor of Hoboken The Honorable Theresa Castellano, 1st Ward Councilwoman Hoboken, New Jersey The Honorable State Senator Bernard F. Kenny, Jr. Municipal Clerk James Farina Eighteen Veterans from different wars, all members of the American Legion Post 107, marched single file into the funeral home and formed a half circle in front of Pop's casket with their Commander, Mr. Tom Kennedy, standing in the center of the half circle. Five of the eighteen Veterans performed the following, which Ed described as a Salute to Fallen Comrades. |
Verse One In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields Verse 2 Rest ye in peace, ye Flanders dead. The fight that ye so bravely led We've taken up. And we will keep True faith with you who lie asleep With each a cross to mark his bed, In Flanders fields. Fear not that ye have died for naught. The torch ye threw to us we caught. Ten million hands will hold it high, And Freedom's light shall never die! We've learned the lesson that ye taught In Flanders fields Verse 3 So shall thou rest, and what if thou withdraw In silence from the living, and no friend Take note of thy departure. All that breathes will share thy destiny. The gay will laugh When thou art gone, the solemn brood of care Plod on, and each one as before will chase His favorite phantom; yet all these shall leave Their mirth and their employments, and shall come And make their bed with thee. As the long train Of ages glides away, the sons of men, The youth in life's green spring, and he who goes In the full strength of years, matron, and maid, The speechless babe and the gray-headed man Shall one by one be gathered to thy side By those who in their turn shall follow them. Verse 4 So live, that when thy summons comes to join The innumerable caravan, which moves To that mysterious realm where each shall take His chamber in the silent halls of death, Thou go not like the quarry-slave at night, Scourged by his dungeon, but sustained and soothed By an unfaltering trust, approach thy grave, Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch About him, and lies down to pleasant dream. Verse 5 We shall meet, but we shall miss him There will be one vacant chair We shall linger to caress him While we breathe our evening prayer. When a year ago we gathered Joy was in his mild blue eye But a golden cord is severed And our hopes in ruin lie. We shall meet, but we shall miss him. The Chaplain then offered the following prayer: Thou Great Eternal Spirit God of us all Thou who are Truth Wisdom and Love Help us to keep alive the memories And associations of this hour May each one of us take up the torch so Bravely borne by our Comrades who have Gone west may we revere their memory by Ardently serving the needy mothers Widows and orphans of those who have Answered thy Great Command . . . Rest in Peace. In Thy name, we ask for His guidance Amen. |
Mr. Sam Scardigno wrote and sang, "They Gave Their Lives--The Veterans Song," a tribute to all the men and women who served our nation during all of its conflicts. |
Let's all bring flags and Wreaths and flowers To place on every grave Of our departed veterans so young And oh so brave To those who lay in fields beneath The crosses row on row The airmen, sailors, and marines And every G-I-Joe Many were only seventeen and just Begun to live Others were brothers, dads, and sisters Whose lives they did proudly give. Chorus, (march tempo) They gave their lives for their country To fight for the red white and blue Leaving their loved ones behind them And children that they never knew Let us give thanks to the veterans And for the sacrifice they made So that we might live in peace once again Oh! What a price they paid Bugle Solo |
Mr. Jack O'Brien played Amazing Grace on his fife, followed by Commander Kennedy, who spoke of the tragedies of D-Day and the importance of preserving your family's history for future generations. He praised Pop for his courage and strength, then recited the following two poems: |
It is the Veteran, not the preacher, Who has given us freedom of religion It is the Veteran, not the reporter, Who has given us freedom of the press It is the Veteran, not the poet, Who has given us freedom of speech It is the Veteran, not the campus organizer, Who has given us freedom to assemble It is the Veteran, not the lawyer, Who has given us the right to a fair trial It is the Veteran, not the Politian, Who has given us the right to vote It is the Veteran, who salutes the Flag. -Unknown Author Gold Star Mother His birth was very painful As all births are, we know But when she embraced her infant son Her face was all aglow And as he started out in school This mother's pride and joy, She thought what will his future be When he is no longer a little boy? As he grew a little older And the talk of war was near, She prayed, "Please, God, don't let him go"! I guess that's every mother's fear. And now he is up in heaven But if you listen close, you'll hear him say "You never really lost me, Mom, For I'm with you every day." -Tom Kennedy, Sr. Commander, American Legion Post 107 |
At the close of this tribute, Commander Kennedy turned toward the family and assured them Pop would never be forgotten. He paused, then shouted, "SORRY IS A NATION THAT HAS NO HEROES. SORRIER YET IS A NATION THAT FORGETS HIS HEROES. <Pause> PASS IN REVIEW AND RENDER YOUR LAST SALUTE." One by one, each of the eighteen Veterans from American Legion Post 107 approached Pop, saluted him, and exited the funeral home. Commander Kennedy then knelt in front of Pop's coffin, said a prayer, respectfully saluted him, and exited the funeral home. Need I say this magnificent tribute to Pop left not a dry eye inside or outside the funeral home. After that, Ed noticed a man enter wearing a long, brown, hooded robe with chains and crosses dangling from his side. He was heavyset, had a potbelly, a bald spot, and a beard. Chuckling, Ed thought, this dude looks like Friar Tuck, and he's giving Pop's benediction. How cool is that! The following morning, February 23, 2005, only immediate family arrived at the Failla Memorial Funeral Home to prepare for the one-hour trip to Brigadier General William C. Doyle Memorial Cemetery, in Wrightstown, New Jersey. The Funeral Director instructed them to say their final goodbyes so they could place Pop into the hearse. Before closing the casket, Jenny placed Pop's WWII baseball cap on his head, crooked, as he always wore it. The casket was then closed and the American Flag draped over it. As the hearse drove down Washington Street, it stopped briefly in front of city hall and his bench as a final salute in Pop's honor. When the family arrived at the cemetery, they were courted into the Chapel after Pop's casket was in place. The Honor Guard approached the casket and stood at attention. The Funeral Director read Pop's obituary and a poem. They played Taps while two members of the Honor Guard performed the Flag Ceremony, in turn, handing the American Flag to Zoraida. Zoraida leaned down and embraced Pop's coffin. Kissing it, she began to cry, then told her beloved husband of almost fifty years, "I'm going to miss you, my love." |
Copyright Kathleen Belfiore Schuman |