After two days on the road, and more than 14 hours on my motorcycle, I’m home from the funeral services of PFC Kristian Menchaca. This was a long, and hard mission — in many ways. But perhaps it was supposed to be…

The trip was filled with special kindnesses from total strangers, like when I ran out of gas on one of the most isolated freeways in Texas, and a retired Army 1SG from Los Fresnos (named for the ash trees that grow there in abundance), pulled over to help me. He drove 20 miles to the next gas station, bought a gas can and filled it with gas, and then drove back to make sure I wasn’t stranded in the hot texas sun for any longer than I had to be.

Or the honor of meeting Sgt. Daniel Zapata at the cemetery, who shared with me the story of his son Spc Marc Anthony Zapata, who was killed in action by hostile fire in Najaf, Iraq nearly two years ago.

I joined the friends, family, and community of the fallen during the Funeral Mass. I was deeply moved by the spirit of the community, and found great Peace and comfort in the words of Bishop Raymundo Pena from the Brownsville Diocese, who spoke of PFC Menchaca’s valor and sacrifice:

“News reports about the circumstances of Kris’ death in Iraq could lead us to an unholy rage and anger, but that would only dishonor Kristian’s very name and Kristian himself,” Pena said.

“We must, as he did, reach for the ideal: to work for peace and an end to conflict wherever we may find it — at home, on the streets or even in a foreign land,” he added.

I’ll probably have more later.

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News Reports:

• Houston Chronicle
• KGBT4 from the Rio Grande Valley
• KRGVTV from the Rio Grande Valley (with Video)
• Brownsville Herald

Posted by Robbie Cooper on Thursday, June 29th, 2006 | Trackback |