 It's always difficult to hear bad news, and the worst kind anyone can bring is news of death That's what captain Ted Curtis Department of Army notification officer is doing here His job isn't any easier because he has done this before or because he doesn't know the people in fact not knowing them Actually makes his job more of a strain because he doesn't know what to expect Mrs. Foley I'm Mrs. Stepnack. You want my daughter? Is she at home? Yes, Carol! May I come in? What's the matter? Is there husband in some kind of trouble? Foley, I'm captain Curtis. Is there anyone to talk to you? Oh? Quickly sit down. Mrs. Foley, I Have something to tell you about your husband The secretary of the army has requested us to inform you of the death of your husband Who was killed during maneuvers at his duty station on Wednesday The secretary extends his deepest sympathy to you and your family and your tragic loss I'm sorry. No. The notification officer will refer to a follow-up visit from another the survivor assistance officer in this case Lieutenant Mears from a nearby post I'll help you to start the arrangements for the funeral I'll call the mortuary officer and the headquarters comment on and see that arrangements begin just as soon as possible Meanwhile, if there's anything else I can do to help you Please don't hesitate to call. You can reach me at any time I'll leave this pamphlet with you, which I think you will find to be very helpful Some of it won't be too clear. There have been some changes made, but I'll go over it with you when you have some time Now you have my phone number and I'll be in contact with you and remember I want to emphasize what I told you yesterday That I'm here to assist you So if there's any questions you have or anything I can do at all Just don't hesitate to ask The commandant in turn calls the post chaplain who will be responsible for the religious services. Yes, George I'm sorry to hear that Sure, we can handle it. I'll try to take care of it myself. What can you tell me about? Sergeant Paul Foley As soon as he has all the basic information he needs The chaplain will usually make arrangements to see the family and you'll also try to talk to the funeral director I know it was a military funeral, but that's about all. I'm not surprised. I'm sure the family doesn't know much more than that Well, you haven't talked to them yet. No, I'm just on my way over to see them now They live quite a way out. Yes. I know that's why I stopped by here first I was hoping you'd might be able to tell me a little information about them Well, I don't think I can help you out very much I know that it's not always possible to discuss practical matters or question members of the family during their time of grief and The chaplain is simply trying to get as much basic information as he can before he sees them You didn't know sergeant Foley. No Why don't you talk to the escort? He's still around. Well, I think I will do you happen to know his name? I have it here somewhere Yeah, right here Sergeant Chavez Morning chaplain. I'm sergeant Chavez sergeant Foley's escort Thank you for coming over sir Well, and I were very good friends Fine. I was hoping you'd be able to tell me something about him. Okay What do you want to know? everything All I have is Kind of information you get out of a service record. It's all very cut and dried 24 years old finished high school Worked as a mechanics helper for several years. Paul was a wheeled vehicle mechanic in our outfit And a pretty good one too Yes, I know But what kind of a person was he? It was a nice guy Everybody seemed to like him Easygoing. Yeah Pretty loose too. I mean nothing seemed to bother him too much What about this accident? The one on which he was killed That was a fluke And he and two other guys were horsing around in a Jeep and it turned over The other two guys were thrown clear But Paul wasn't that lucky Did you know his wife? No He used to show me pictures of her He was always talking about the chaplain has obviously taken a personal interest in Paul Foley But there's also a very practical reason for his interest in the first place It's hard to have any real understanding or feeling for someone. He doesn't know and Secondly the more he knows about Sergeant Foley and his family the less chance there is of making embarrassing and painful blunders The better he knows the family the more effective is his ministry to them My parents were very unhappy when they heard that Paul wouldn't be buried from the church But I understood Paul didn't go to church He hasn't for quite a few years, but my parents still consider him a Catholic Have they discussed this with Carol? No, they were annoyed because they weren't consulted. I can understand that but I'm sure there was no intention of ignoring them As a matter of fact, I don't think Carol would object to a church ceremony Particularly if she knew how important it was to your parents. Why don't you ask her right now? I suppose I should have mentioned something before I just wasn't thinking about it By his understanding and help the chaplain has resolved a situation that could have led to bitterness and pain The chaplain can help also with the family's decisions on funeral arrangements Grief and shock can make it difficult for the family to plan the funeral The chaplain is performing a valuable service if he can help them avoid emotional and impulsive decisions He can help in other ways too That's a hard question Carol Who knows why these things have to happen, but I am sure there is a reason All we can do is trust in God. I know It seems so unfair We spend so little time with each other It is both with him last week The chaplain's ministry to the bereaved is very important It calls for his own faith Experience and spiritual values to help others work out an understanding and acceptance of their loss In planning the service itself the chaplain is guided by the wishes of the family If a church ceremony is planned, he coordinates it with a civilian clergyman Perhaps the family may prefer a non-religious ceremony the chaplain is responsible for seeing that they have it Okay These things have I spoke and in all religious ceremonies the services are always those of the particular faith responsible for the burial From the father will send in my name Hail more lay Rahamin Shokin bum romim I'm same in a corner. No tachas can pay hashikino The civilian clergyman may be asked to lead prayers at the visitation prior to the church services Said to me See I make all things note. I am the alpha and the omega the beginning and the end Together the civilian clergyman and the chaplain can assure the family that both the religious and the military Ceremonies are properly carried out The military ceremony begins with the traditional formation outside the church or chapel The chaplain is stationed outside the church door when the hearse arrives If there are honorary Paul bearers They form two ranks on either side of the entrance If he were in uniform the chaplain would stand at attention and salute as the flag draped casket is removed from the hearse Inside the church the casket is placed on a carrier and the chaplain continues to lead the procession to the sanctuary Sergeant Paul Foley has come home It's certainly not the kind of homecoming Anyone could have wanted or anticipated It's a homecoming of sadness and mortality But there's another home and another homecoming for Paul now Our Lord says that in his father's home There are many rooms and he gave it the seal of his own authority by saying If it were not so I Would have told you my friends think what assurance there is in those words At the conclusion of ceremonies in the church the chaplain leads the casket as it is taken out Even If he were in uniform the chaplain would salute the casket with flag is carried past him At this point if he's wearing vestments the chaplain may return to the sacristy to remove them He then takes his place in the lead car of the cortege Sir, I'm looking at Stuart the funeral officer chaplain Cooper. I do sir return at my signal for the volleys at the conclusion of the service will be to return my hat Arriving at the cemetery first at the head of the cortege Gives the chaplain time enough to make a quick check of arrangements there with the funeral officer as The casket is removed from the hearse the Paul bearers and chaplains stand the detention and salute The chaplain then leads the procession through the ranks of the honorary paul bearers to the grave site Upon reaching the grave the chaplain steps to one side to allow the paul bearers to reach the side of the grave He stands at attention and salutes as the flag draped casket passes him At the grave side the chaplain takes his place at the head of the casket When the family has been seated with the friends and other mourners behind and around them He begins the interment service Lord God through your mercy those who have lived in faith find eternal peace bless this grave and Send your angel to watch over it Forgive the sins of our brother whose body we bury here By dying you open the gates of life for those who believe in you Do not let our brother be parted from you, but by your glorious power Give him light joy and peace in heaven where you live forever and ever Give him eternal rest oh Lord At the end of the religious rite the chaplain gives the pre-arranged signal to the firing squad He then gives the hand salute giving the firing of the volley and the playing of taps The chaplain returns to the position of attention while the flag is being folded The presentation of the flag Concludes the service this presentation may be made by the chaplain or the survivor assistance officer If the clergyman officiating at the grave is a civilian the flag is presented by the survivor assistance officer This flag is presented in the name of a grateful nation as a token of its appreciation for the honorable and faithful service Rendered by your husband. I'm sorry. We had to meet under these circumstances Carol I would have liked to have known you and Paul and happier times. Thank you chaplain Thank you for everything Chaplain Thank you. That's good to hear Chaplain I want you to know how moved we all were with the service. Thank you. I didn't realize you knew Paul Well, I didn't really At least not as well as I would have liked