SAILOR AT REST AMIDST A SEA OF CORNFIELDS

SAILOR AT REST AMIDST A SEA OF CORNFIELDS 
By Andy Weddington
Monday, 15 July 2019

We have a long tradition in this state of caring for our neighbors - it is truly an Iowa value. - Tom Vilsack 

From Omaha, Nebraska, motor along I-80 East for about four hours and hang a left at Cedar Rapids for another half hour or so and you come to Central City. 

Small town America. 

Small. 

Farming.

A sea - of corn. 

And the people of Iowa proudly fly our flag. 

Give or take, Central City numbers 1,000.

All neighbors. 

They take care of one another.   

Ola and Ina Myers had to grant written permission for their eldest of three, 17-years old Ray (better known by his middle name Harrison), to enlist in the United States Navy.

Not two months after turning 19 young Harrison, Seaman 2d Class, died in the line of duty; along with 428 shipmates aboard the USS Oklahoma in Pearl Harbor on 07 December 1941.

And so Saturday past at 1100, but a few months after being positively identified, sixty-four years after the death of dad and 40 years after mom, Harrison was finally laid to rest aside his parents; who in life wanted nothing more. 

From American Legion Post 421 in Central City the small funeral procession - with Patriot Guard bikers on point and rear guard flying our flag - rolled along a dirt road passing fields of healthy corn on either side to an old cemetery of barely a handful of acres. Civil War graves along the back, the weathered markers barely legible, anchor the hallowed ground. 

The cemetery so small mourners were asked to park at the high school and ride public school buses. Scores did so. 

Family on hand though all only knew of "Uncle Harrison." But family is family. Lore now real. Emotional.  

A detail of 18 Sailors, including an admiral, clad in ceremonial white rendered honors. Striking their uniforms against the vibrant countryside. Perfect their drill.

Whipping flags, commands, the reports of rifles, and a soulful Taps echoed.  

Birds chirped. 

Scarecrow nor crow in sight. 

A local ABC affiliate TV personality and weekend news anchor covered the ceremony. She interviewed family and the admiral. She's a Marine kid (dad retired) so she got what a big deal the ceremony.  

Back at the Legion - pub, bingo hall, gathering place - the Auxiliary hosted a home-cooked buffet. 

An elder with whom I spoke reminisced about the attack on Pearl Harbor. He recalled the devastating news delivered to the Myers family. 

A boy of 10 or so at the time he went on to serve the mortuary needs of Central City for some 30 years. Still he (and his wife of 66 years) offers advice; he knows these people. He cares for his neighbors. A friend of Harrison's brother and sister, Saturday bittersweet.

And while honors rendered to Seaman 2d Class Myers a Soldier - Sergeant Major James G. Sartor, U. S. Army, of Teague, Texas - was killed during combat operations in Afghanistan.

An officer ordered to deliver the terrible news to family. Sobering duty it is. 

Texans, like Iowans, have long tradition of caring for neighbors; a core value - truly. 

Soon, with military honors - before family, friends, and by comrades-in-arms, Sergeant Major Sartor will be put to rest. 

All the while the rest of us carry on; under the protective umbrella of selfless citizens, like Harrison and James, who voluntarily stand between us and our enemies.  

Army. 

Navy. 

More than a game.