A GRAVESIDE MIXUP

 It was a morning that I will never forget. The family had concluded the chapel part of the service without any issue and now we were gathered at the graveside to pay our final respects. Veteran and Sergeant John Davis was being laid to rest. The air was thick with solemnity.

Sergeant Davis had served his country with distinction, and his memorial service was to include full military honors. This was a fitting tribute to his life of sacrifice for our country. The honor guard, dressed impeccably in their uniforms, stood at attention as the family and friends gathered around the casket draped in the American flag.

I shared several thoughts and scriptures that I thought would fit the moment. Everything was going as planned.

Seated directly in front of the casket, was John's widow Mary. She was a strong woman who had been by his side through thick and thin. The mood of this particular graveside service carried a somber tension. There was certain reverence in the air. It was emotional and quiet. More so than usual, it was respectfully ceremonial. I was enjoying the Structure of the Ceremony.

I shared my thoughts and scripture. Then honor guard stepped forward and lifted the flag from the casket.

Remember, this is the same flag that had been used in the Chapel Service. Nothing had changed. Now we are at the graveside and it was time to fold the flag. It was to be presented it to the widow.

Tapps began playing in the distance. Soldiers with military precision lifted the flag from the Casket and the rest made history ….. Out of no where I heard the scream that broke the silence …….

“That's the wrong casket!"

Mary cried out, her voice filled the with a mix of shock and distress.

My head was spinning ….

What did you say …??

Im thinking …. Did we just do an entire service with the wrong person in the box….?

The murmurs among the attendees grew louder as we all absorbed her words.

Bill, the funeral director, stepped forward and he looked dead. I felt his stomach drop. He had no idea of why this happened…

We all thought this could be explained away. But as we looked closer, we saw the unmistakable signs—the casket was indeed not Sergeant Davis's.

"Mrs. Davis, I am so sorry, We'll sort this out immediately." I’d never heard Bill tremble like this.

Through tear-filled eyes, Mary nodded, her grief now compounded by this unthinkable mistake.

Within moments the Funeral Home’s Black Limo pulled up and the immediate family were whisked away to the main offices.

I was left to explain to the crowd that this was an error that would be made right. I adjourned the service and advised them to contact the family later.

Later that day Bill and his team scrambled to confirm what had happened. They discovered that Sergeant Davis's casket had been mistakenly buried a day earlier due to a clerical error.

The casket at the graveside and Sgt Davis had been switched. Someone didn’t look under the flags that were draped on both caskets.

Sgt Davis’s Casket had to be exhumed (dug up). The family that thought they had buried Grampa had to be called back in for another service. Mary and the family of Sgt Davis had a quiet service and proper burial complete with Taps and a new flag presented to Mary

Both families sued the Funeral Hone and won and undisclosed amount along with free Funerals for Life ….

I was there …. It’s true and I lived through it. There is nothing redeeming about this story other than stuff happens.

Sometimes that’s enough …?