Another funeral

John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”

I’ll be attending yet another funeral tomorrow. I’m not looking forward to it. I don’t do well at them.

This one will be a little more difficult … it’s family.

My 2nd cousin, First Lieutenant Chase Prasnicki; was killed in Afghanistan by an IED on June 27th. He was a West Point Graduate and  “in Country” less than 4 days.

He’s now at home in many ways and will be laid to rest in Rockbridge County tomorrow.

The service will be held at St. Patrick’s Church in Lexington, Va. at 11am.  It’s the Church I grew up in as a child. His burial will follow in Buena Vista at Greenhill Cemetery… Details of  arrangements HERE .

I grieve for the loss of a family member, a soldier  and such a young man, Chase was 24 years old. It angers me as the death toll rises in Iraq and Afghanistan ( Faces of the Fallen ). It also fills me with PRIDE that we still have men and women willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice for their fellow man.

Our family has a deep and rich history of Military Service (as well as Public Service).

Although I did not make it into the Marine Corp, I will wear my Fire Department Class A uniform tomorrow.

I’ll wear it for several reasons.

To me, much like the Marine Corp Dress Blues; our uniform symbolizes Honor, Pride, Tradition and Respect. I’ll wear it in HONOR of Chase, those who have fallen before him and those who may fall after.

I also think our uniform reminds folks that we too know loss and sacrifice. We too are on the “front lines”. It all started with the murderous attacks of September 11, 2001 and we too were there to answer the call. I think a Fire Department uniform will fit just fine with all of the military ones that I’m sure will be present.

I hope you feel the same when wearing your Class A’s.  I hope that every time you put it on, you remember our 343, every LODD and all of our soldiers who have and continue to fight and die for our freedoms.

More about Chase   HERE   HERE  and HERE .

Stay Safe and in House!

Captain Wines