A Day of Tribute
Saturday, September 29, 2007, Sergeant Eddie Jeffers’ body was laid to rest at Memorial Gardens in Daleville, Alabama. The funeral was held at Patterson-Sorrells Funeral Home in Enterprise, Alabama and my family is so grateful for the wonderful ceremony they performed for Eddie. The family received many awards and commendations for Eddie and the presenters sincerity and shared grief was comforting.
We were told that there would be 70-80 Patriot Guards showing up on their motorcycles with American flags waving from their powerful bikes; there were 127 according to their ride capain! It was some sight to drive up to the funeral home and see all those bikes at the gas station across the street. It was so moving to walk up the sidewalk and shake the hands of some 60 of the Guards and personally thank them for showing up. It was majestic to look out in front of us in the funeral procession to see dozens of motorcyles leading the way to Eddie’s gravesite. A quick glance in the rearview mirror revealed dozens of cars following and then dozens more Patriot Guards bringing up the rear. When we got to the cemetary, the Guard were waiting for us. The Guard who broke formation and rode alone representing Eddie was a dear friend name Bill who lived across the hall from me in Heidelberg, Germany some 20 years ago and had changed Eddie’s diapers. The police escort, the blocking off of every intersection along the way, the cars pulling over, the many fine Americans standing alongside the road, all paid tremendous tribute to Eddie.
The grave side ceremony was so overwhelming; the precision and professionalism of the honor guard as fine as I’ve ever seen. The presiding officer, normally a captain or a major, was the two-star general who commands Fort Rucker and the Army Aviation Center. He presented Stephanie, Tina (Eddie’s mother), and me a flag and was so gracious, sincere, and strong. The firing of the gun salute and the playing of Taps was very emotional, but my breaking point was when the flag covering the casket was folded. It just overwhelmed me with more emotions than I can describe.
My son would have been proud to see his ceremony; had he been in attendance for another soldier, he would have said “They did that soldier right.”
They did my boy right.
October 1st, 2007 at 11:06 am
I am bawling while reading this- I can’t think of what that must have been like- sad yes, but so much respect given to Eddie- and your family. It’s got to be hard to have so many emotions flowing all at once. I pray the Lord’s peace for you continuously~ Carolyn
October 3rd, 2007 at 7:10 pm
Mr. Jeffers,
You son did us right. What we did, was to honor his service to this great nation. Scott Malensek is a good friend of mine, and befriended your son. I have read your son’s words. And as a combat veteran myself, I agree with him completely. He is your son, I would be proud for him to be my son as well. As a Patriot Guard Rider, I wish that I could have stood for him, as he stood for me. Be proud of that boy!!!
May God bless you family and hold you close through this difficult time.
Stephen Maley
Past National Captain
Patriot Guard Riders
October 3rd, 2007 at 9:17 pm
Dear Jeffers Family,
I found your son’s letter dated February 1, 2007 posted on Free Republic and it moved me and my husband so much that we felt we had to write you and let you know how grateful we are for your son’s sacrifice. Your son is a hero in every sense of the word. Our country does not have enough men of this calibre, although we wish it did. I can’t imagine how hard it is to let him go - I try to imagine and put myself in your shoes, as we have a son, 15 months old. I imagine that I’m training and raising up a little soldier to fight the good fight, to love our country enough to fight for it’s very freedoms, to love the Lord, and realize that he is part of something bigger than himself. Our hearts go out to you during this time of great loss, but please know that we are eternally grateful to Sgt. Eddie Jeffers for his courage, his honor, his willingness to defend our freedoms, and to you for your sacrifice, as well. Our thoughts and prayers are with you always, and know that he is in a place of happiness beyond description, residing with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Until Eternity,
Gary and Lissa Knight
October 5th, 2007 at 8:15 am
What a wonderful tribute to a wonderful Hero.
All of you are continued to be in my prayers.
God Bless Our Military
Love,
Carol
xoxooxox
October 7th, 2007 at 12:33 am
To the Jeffers family, I wish to send you this Salute Sir and tell you that you do not grieve alone. America grieves with you. Your Son is a true hero. God has a special place for your son, you can be assured. It is at his right hand. Sir if I may, I would like to thank your son for giving his life so that we may all live in this great nation in peace. God bless you and your Family.
I Salute you and your Family.
October 8th, 2007 at 10:53 am
To the Jeffers family. My heart goes out to you at this time, but I would like to thank you for raising a son who unselfishly gave up his life so others could live in freedom. These young men and women are the real heroes of today. He is at Heaven’s Door and Jesus will welcome him with open arms.
The PATRIOT GUARD does an excellent job whether at a newly fallen soldier or at a veteran’s funeral - I know, because my husband recently passed away and was a VietNam Era veteran and they stood outside the funeral home and escorted the body to the cemetary - it was such a moving sight. I believe the PATRIOT GUARD does every soldier right.
Again my loving prayers to your family.
October 17th, 2007 at 4:37 pm
To the Jeffers family - My heart just breaks for all of you. I pray that you will have the strength that you need to get through the days ahead.
Betsy
(Arkansas)
October 23rd, 2007 at 8:26 am
Dave and the Jeffers family,
I have been away for a few weeks and have not been able to read about the funeral for Eddie but the words used to portray the ceremony were so eloquent and beautiful and real that I was almost sitting here at attention as if I were one of the veterans in attendance. God Bless Eddie!
God Bless,
Corinne
Vance Air Force Base
November 10th, 2007 at 3:04 am
alberto gorin
a.z.gorrin@chello.nl
arnhem.holland
am starting
since second world war and since i see all the wars
U.S is a police officer watching the world make this world better
makes mistakes as political system do but its a police officer
make world better
if it was t for U.S we be under hitler
was t for the U.S kosvo was stil at war
U.S going around roun round the world do dirty job
in responds since 2003 get stabed in the back
protesters U.S is terrorist country
years after kosvo people complian about U.S
yet these people wil yell out to the U.S if they are in trouble
in europe we al qada nazzies radical moslims
france germany.who knows here
it wil fal
i hope that U.S wil not come i hope U.S wil say screw the world U.S
first
tomorow vets day.i can t donate calling card or money
i can t say thank you
base in ramstein germany base here is closed
was one in soesterberg
we had some when it was open on corvette club
ones a year i walk airborn walkday
http://www.PictureTrail.com/airbornwalkday2007
http://www.airbornewandeltocht.nl/en/
so to allll soldiers and americans
to alllllll injured to allllllllll vets
to each and evry one
thank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank youthank you
enjoy vets day be happy go to mcdonnalds
and what i do.monday send postcards prepair for new postcards
i hope i get honner to write with a soldier and to meet one
and we can pull this off appear we do that
we can laugh out loud to alllllllllllll say non believers as arabs who potray
army as the abugrai prission as thats only what U.S is
i salute you alllllll
on this morning
when you wake up evening here
October 12th, 2008 at 10:08 am
I bookmarked your blog, thanks for sharing this very interesting article