Rest Easy, Phil

Hubster and I are safely home from Phil's funeral in Delaware. What a whirlwind of a couple days. So many people to meet and re-meet. Phil is a good man and he will be sorely missed by all who know him.

Phil is a decorated Vietnam Veteran. Following the Funeral Service, we all went to the VFW field. It was there, the Honor Guard shot their rifles and a lone Bugler played "Taps". It's impossible to stand there and not be stirred. My throat had a lump and tears rolled down my cheek. Such a simple tradition..yet oh so intense. I'm so glad the family chose to honor Phil in this manner immediately after the Funeral. As difficult as it was to watch as Ginger received the perfectly folded United States Flag...I know Phil would have had it no other way. He is a Marine. What an honor to shake the hands of the Veterans who participated in this Ceremony. I thanked each of them for their Service.

At a later date, Phil's ashes will be left at a Veterans Cemetery. It's what he wanted. The family did their best to fill all his final wishes...except for one. Phil had requested that everyone receive a handful of M&M's which have three letters (A.M.F.) on each piece of candy. Yep...that is Phil for you. He wanted "Adios, Mother F_ _ _ _ _ _" to be his farewell to this world. Yep, a Marine. The family convinced him to drop that request and stick to serving Wawa Coffee instead.

Phil... it was an honor and a pleasure to call you Brother-in-law. You are a good man and you have left a strong legacy. May Almighty God comfort Ginger in the coming days and weeks, as she learns to live a life without her beloved husband. May God comfort my husband and his only other living brother. May Phil rest easy, his work on earth in now done.


Day is done,
gone the sun,
From the lake,
from the hills,
from the sky;
All is well,
safely rest,
God is nigh.