On May 1, Harry and I traveled to Milan, Missouri for a memorial service for my brother Jake. That date was chosen because Jake's wife Judy passed away several years ago on May 1st. Judy's ashes were scattered at a small cemetery in Milan, Missouri, where her family was from, and Jake wished to be beside Judy at his own death. Honoring those wishes, Judy's children planned this private memorial service to honor Jake.
The pastor who guided us through the service.
Two Vietnam veterans attended the memorial. They served in the same unit in Vietnam with my brother.
Pictured on the left is "Mister Jones" (Derryl Jones) from Michigan. He was teamed up with Jake as the pilot of the helicopter on which Jake was the observation gunner. "Mister Jones" told many beautiful stories of his experiences with Jake...stories that illustrated Jake's character...his expertise, his sense of humor, his humility, his intelligence, his ability to stay cool under pressure. Len Demaray is pictured on the right. He and his wife Renee traveled all the way from Texas to attend Jake's memorial. He loved the military and he gave twenty-six years of his life to serving abroad. He recently retired. Now, Len watches Daniel Boone reruns. Among other things.
After the simple service filled with memories of Jake we headed about a mile down the road to a pretty little hillside cemetery. Jake and Judy's memorial headstones are in a small plot there. Len and "Mister Jones" scattered Jake's ashes in this little plot. Then they each placed a US flag by Jake's headstone, and then they saluted. It was touching and beautiful to witness their final tribute to their fellow soldier.
The people who came to the memorial service travelled long distances to honor Jake.Len and Renee Demaray - El Paso, Texas
Derryl Jones - Thompsonville, Michigan
Daryl - Huntington Beach, California
Donnie and Jenifer Weeda and young son, Tyler - Castle Rock, Colorado
Elly and Cecil - Wendell, Idaho
Mieke and Ed Boschma - Tonopah, Arizona
Harry and I - Buhl, Idaho
(not pictured: Ed Boshma, Cindy Baker
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