My Uncle Charles died on Friday and was buried on Monday. I had been around my Uncle Charles my whole life, and he has always been the jovial, funny uncle. Making jokes and quick laughs. But as I read his obituary, heard some more stories and saw the Marine color guard present the flag and play "Taps" and observed the local VFW group there to give a 21 gun salute, I realized how much more there was to Uncle Charles. He served 4 campaigns in Korea. He as part of the Inchon landing and did street combat in Seoul. Bluntly, Uncle Charles had buddies killed next to him and he killed some Northern Koreans. Tough stuff. He never spoke much of it to his children or wife, and you can understand why. Watching the Marines present a flag to Aunt Mary and hearing "Taps" was very touching. It was the first funeral I have been to for a war veteran who actually saw combat. Thinking of what he and the others went through for our country was powerful.
Uncle Charles was also a star athlete back in high school and a Golden Gloves boxer. But I never thought of all this when Uncle Charles would visit and joke around with us. It is a good reminder that there is always more to our lives than what people see on the surface. People have depth to them, powerful memories and emotions buried deeper than the casual chit chat brings to surface. I believe this why the Bible strongly encourages hospitality and community. Only by talking to be people for some time do we begin to grasp the wholeness of their life and experiences. This knowledge brings forth appreciation and sympathy and understanding and love which ultimately brings us closer together.
I loved Uncle Charles and will miss him. I am saddened for his bride of 50 years, my Aunt Mary, and his three kids, one of whom, Kathy, is getting married next week. But I know he is at peace in Heaven with our Lord.
In a bittersweet way, funerals provide good opportunities to see extended family that we normally don't see much of. 5 of the 6 Meadors' siblings of my father's generation were there with several cousins and now 2nd cousins as we are having children of our own. Some pictures are below.
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