The Funeral

We left the house at 6:30 this morning, and some 400 miles and 15 hours later we are back home, weary, but glad we went. This is the story from the handout at the funeral: "Captain Lyle L. Gordon was born on September 11, 1974, in Dallas, TX. He was the first son of Dickey and Mary Gordon. Lyle was killed in action while serving his country on January 26, 2005, in Western Iraq. Lyle graduated from Midlothian High School in 1993 and from Texas A&M University as a member of the Class of 1997. While at Texas A&M, Lyle was a member of the Corps of Cadets Company E-2. After obtaining his degree, Lyle went on to pursue his love of flying with the United States Marine Corps. On April 7, 2000, he accepted a commission as an officer. Upon completion of The Basic School and flight school, Lyle received his Wings of Gold on June 28, 2002. In 2000, Lyle discovered something he loved more than flying: Kaci. Lyle and Kaci were married on June 9, 2001, in Bastrop, TX. They resided in Pensacola, FL, while Lyle attended flight school, and then moved to Jacksonville, NC, for a short 7-month stay to complete flight training as a CH-53E pilot. In March 2003, Lyle and Kaci moved to San Diego, CA, where they bought their first home. Lyle was stationed at MCAS Miramar as a part of the HMH-361 Flying Tigers squadron. From there, he was deployed to Okinawa, Japan, in June 2003 and returned just before Thanksgiving 2003. All the while, Lyle and Kaci remodeled their home, inside and out, to make it theirs. Lyle's domestic life has always been full of fun and love. Lyle deployed to Al Asad, Iraq, on August 13, 2004, for an anticipated 7 months. While in Iraq, he supported Operation Iraqi Freedom II by participating in many support missions. Lyle was promoted to Captain on September 1, and received his qualifications as a Helicopter Aircraft Commander (HAC) shortly after. Most recently, Lyle was on the night shift and enjoyed flying with night-vision goggles in a 'sea of green'. Lyle lived his life to the fullest and committed his life to our country and freedom. His love for life, compassionate ways, and faithfulness will have a lasting effect on all who had the privilege to know him. SERVICES: 10:00 a.m. Saturday, February 5, 2005, Midlothian Conference Center. BURIAL: Hannibal Cemetery. SURVIVED BY: Wife, Kaci Renea Gordon; Parents, Dickey and Mary Gordon; Brother & Sister-in-law, Boyd and Lara (Hess) Gordon. MEMORIALS MAY BE MADE TO: Captain Lyle L. Gordon Memorial Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 1654, Midlothian, TX 76065." There were quite a few family members present, including Bob & I and Don and Bonnie from Muenster, and Paul Stratton & daughter, Trisha, from North Richland Hills. Also Albert & Imogene (Flusche)Zimmerer, Albert J. & Jackie Zimmerer and sons, Guy, Adam, Ryan and Josh, and one of Albert's sisters (Debbie or Shelly), along with her son (I think). Also Jim Flusche and his daughter, Sara. Imogene & Jim are siblings of Kitty, Lara's mom. Their mother, Elvira Flusche was also there, and of course, so were Dennis & Kitty Hess, and their other daughter, Holly, and her husband, Matt. Lara and Boyd's son, Tucker, was also there. Sarah is spending the weekend with Lynn Swanbom in Stephenville, not far from the Hannibal Cemetery, and so they both were there for the Graveside Services. When the Stallion Helicopter flew over our heads at the cemetery, it really drove it all home for me. When I heard the guns fire, the bagpipes play, and the trumpet sound out TAPS, then it made it all finally seem real. The whole day was sad, but awesome, too. The love, respect, reverence of family and friends--even strangers--was always there. The large group of vets on their motorcycles, the people standing along the procession route, their hands on their hearts or clasped in reverence, to the one lady who waved the U.S. Flag as we drove by, it was so special. The drive to the cemetery took a little over two hours, with police escort the entire way. I've never before been a part of anything quite like it. I AM tired, and I am glad to be home, but I can honestly say that I am so glad we were there, too. By the way, they used one of my favorite songs at the funeral: I Can Only Imagine, which is on my Mercy Me CD. I happened to have the CD in the Yukon, and we listened to it on the drive over to Hannibal. It's a pretty awesome song; here are some of the words, "...I can only imagine what it will be like when I'll walk by Your Side, I can only imagine what my eyes will see when Your Face is before me...Surrounded by Your Glory, what will my heart feel, will I dance for you Jesus, or in awe of You be still? Will I stand in Your Presence, or to my knees will I fall, will I sing Alleluia, will I be able to speak at all? I can only imagine! I can only imagine..."