There was a funeral in Calhoun County this morning. A stark black hearse drove down the road followed by mothers and fathers, farmers and townspeople. The procession went on forever it seemed to them watching on the sidelines holding American Flags with tears in their eyes. When the stark black hearse arrived next to the grave the coffin was removed by six soldiers with tears in their eyes. They had served with the one inside, and was gently carried and placed over the yawning hole awaiting it. 

Pastor Johnson from the Baptist church told those assembled of the soldier's life and loss, and there was the playing of Taps and the folding of the Flag that was presented to the parents with the words, "In gratitude form a grateful nation" and a snappy salute was rendered. His mother and father touched the casket for one last time then the coffin was slowly lowed into the grave as handfuls of dirt and flowers were thrown on it.

With tear-filled eyes those gathered slowly left the cemetery and those that take care of the last details began their work. In short order the grave was filled in and the ground covered with the floral tributes.

Johnny Watson had come home at last. 

This afternoon there will be a parade and downtown is all decked out to welcome the rest of Johnny Watson's unit home. There will be speeches and a fly over of jet fighters from a local Air Force Base. There will be booths with hot dogs and hamburgers and sweets of every kind. A good time will be had by all.

Though she knows that Johnny Watson is now laying in the cemetery his mother and father will still look at the soldiers passing by hoping perhaps he is among them.

There will be cheers and also tears for Johnny Watson then the flags will be taken down an the booths removed and the planes place back on the flight line and darkness will settle as each goes there separate way but in many homes of those that returned and were honored today and of Johnny Watson’s family there will still be tears till they wake up tomorrow to another day and another dream that hopefully will not wind up as Johnny Watson's did.

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