Yesterday when I attended my monthly meeting of the Tomball Business and Professional Women I found out that a young Tomball marine had been killed by an improvised explosive device while on tour in Afghanistan. They mentioned that a motorcade would be bringing his body to Klein Funeral home that afternoon. As I was driving home I saw everyone lined up so parked my car and with my flip mino in one hand and a flag I carry in my trunk in the other hand I waited to pay my respects.
A marine helicopter followed the hearse as it traveled from David Hook's airport down Main street to Klein Funeral Home. The video I shot is a bit long at 7 minutes but I could not bring myself to cut any of it. There was a 100 car/motorcycle motorcade with people lined on both sides of the street waving flags saying their goodbye to our fallen Tomball hero.
As many of you know our son just got out of the Army this last June. He did two tours of Iraq and this is something that is always in the back of your mind. I feel so sorry for this family. Cpl. Jeffrey Johnson was just 21 years old and left a wife, father, mother, stepmother and three siblings. Please keep this family in your prayers as well as all our brave soldiers who serve to protect us. Freedom is not free and Jeffrey made the ultimate sacrifice.
To see a full story by one of our local news stations please click here.
The first thing I did when I got back in my car was to call our son; because I could.
Marchel - Cpl. Jeffrey Johnson is a hero and my thoughts and prayers are with his wife and family - God Bless Our Troops!
Thanks you for the video - I still have goose bumps and tears in my eyes.
Words cannot convey my heartfelt gratitude to Cpl. Jeffrey Johnson for his great sacrifice for our great country - I love you Jeffrey - may you rest in peace with our Lord and Savior!
Congratulations this post is now featured in the Silent Majority Group of Active Rain.
Marchel, I could not turn it off for 7 minutes, so I understand why you couldn't cut it. Words can't express the sadness I feel to see this. I'm thankful to those that serve and thankful that you could call your son and talk to him on this day.
Saying goodbye to a young person not due his time is always very sad. I know you specially have a special place in your heart to men serving his country....
What a wonderful tribute to our brave young men
HelpfulHannah
Marchel: I watched the entire video, and the KHOU broadcast as well. I am sure that while you were filming this... the thoughts that were going through your mind could only be thought by someone like you... a Mom who has had a son who had faught in Iraq.
This young man... was only in Afghanistan for three weeks. What a horror it must have been for his family.
In many ways a woman like you... a Mom to one son who was in the Service... is in many ways Mother to all of our young men and women who serve. Marchel... you are a very special person. I am so glad for you that you have your son with you. Take care...
NICHOLAS, Thanks for featuring this post. I wish there was more we could do but I'm sure our prayers are appreciated.
RUSSELL, It was an incredible show of support. I was standing beside the President of the Tomball Chamber and he said he sent out word on facebook and it just spread. It is my understanding that the entire street was lined up and we are probably talking about 7 to 10 miles.
MELISSA, I have to be honest and say I was better about praying for our troops when our son was over there. I do pray now but I'm not as consistent. It is just so easy to get caught up in our every day lives and forget.
MARY, I had thought about playing music during the 7 minutes but then could not find a song that worked and I decided the sirens and the silence spoke louder than words.
LOREENA, He was so young. That was the age that our son was during his first tour of Iraq. He tells me now that there were several times that he came close to death. I'm glad he waited to tell me the things that happened during that first tour after he was totally out of the service. It is so very sad. The funeral will be tomorrow.
HANNAH, They are so brave and it is so sad when one falls. There are some things we just won't ever understand.
KAREN ANNE, Thanks for your kind words! It is so hard to understand when they die so young. He was the same age that our son was during his first tour of Iraq. That was an awful time as our son was at a small base that was mortared the entire time that he was there. I will be so happy when our young men and women are out of harms way.
Marchel, at 21 years of age, he was still a baby. Scenes like this are the cold reality of war.
Marchel: Thank you for acknowledging Cpl. Jeffrey Johnson, This is the very sad part of the reality of our current times. I will keep his family in my prayers as well.
Marchel,
Just said a prayer on behalf of his family and friends.
Marchel, Freedom indeed is not free. Thank you.
Thank you for this important reminder, Marchel.
Marchel, what a moving tribute to this young man and the sacrifice he and his family have made for our country. Freedom isn't free.
Marchel That is a real American display of love and respect for our brave young men and women in the military - thank you for stopping and sharing Karen
Marchel what a terrible tragedy. Thanks to him and his fellow soldiers for all they do for this country.
Marchel, words can not express how your post made us feel...and then your words, "I called my son, just because I could". Powerful words, lets all call all our family members, just because we can. Thanks Marchel and God Bless you and your son.
To the brave men and women our our armed forces, Memorial Day should be a day that we take time to honor them and be thankful that they are there for us.
Marchel, I'm so glad that you stopped and shot the video. When I saw your title, I thought of your son home safely also.
Marchel I am sure this hits close to home with your son being so heavily involved. It is always sad to hear about those that don't make it while fighting for our country.
Marchel, We had a similar memorial recently in our town too., very sad. It was nice to see the turn out and all the support. It passed right by our office en route to the cemetary, it was very moving to say the least!!
These losses of our nation's finest are never easy. Last autumn, we lost a neighbor. He had returned from his third tour to Iraq/Afghanistan, but wasn't quite the same this last time.
He was trying to find recovery from the battles still waged in his mind. However, he lost that battle to suicide. We haven't quite gotten over it!
Marchel, your video is very moving. It's so hard to lose someone so young.
Marchel
Very moving and how tragic. I am glad you could call your son and I feel for that family that lost such a young life.
You are one of the lucky mothers whose son came home. But the sacrifices that he and your family made were just as real in terms of the risks taken and the discomfort and worry for him and his family.
You understand that freedom is not free and you and your family have answered the call.
Thank you and thank your son for his service to all of us.