MSgt. Turner, Air Force Retired

An update on Roger:

Tuesday, Jan 17th, Hospice gathered Roger’s team of Caregivers for a Pinning Ceremony, which honors a patient who has served in the military.

Most military people are honored during the day of interment with an Honors Ceremony followed by a 21 gun salute and “Taps” are played. The flag is precisely folded and handed to a designated person with a plaque signed by the President of the USA. It is a very emotional service for family members and close friends, as this is their final goodbye with Honors.

Honoring a terminal patient while they are still very much alive is even more of a special honor and extremely emotional for family or friends in attendance. You are looking into the eyes of a once vibrant soldier, a once very healthy man, hard worker, Husband, Father, Friend while listening to “God Bless the USA” sung by Lee Greenwood in the background.

I was so happy that his Daughter was here for this, as she was raised by her Dad while he served in the military. She has many wonderful memories from living in so many places. She is very well traveled and well spoken from her years of service with her Dad. She has a successful career and a beautiful daughter that will be attending College this Fall.

Also in attendance was two of our best friends that we met back in 2013. They are man and wife and both Army Retirees that we met in Key West on a military campground while spending our first winter as snow birds.

David Farrell, Chief Warrant Officer Five Retired- CW5 (Ret), is also the pilot of a Cessna Skylane 182 and took Roger on a Taco run to Arcadia, FL just weeks ago on December 6th. There is no way on God’s green earth that either of these two men knew that Roger would be seeing the Doctor the very next morning for pain in his chest, which has led us to this moment in time.

Cheryl Farrell, Major Retired- MAJ (Ret) is my close friend that I often call my “Sister from another Mother.” She has been my support system thru this process of unbelievable anguish and total frustration. She poignantly took the lead at the ceremony when it came time for someone to place the pin on Roger’s shirt and presented an honorary plaque to him after reading it out loud. Roger was looking down to hold back his tears, when suddenly, Major Cheryl Farrell gave him his final salute. When she realized he couldn’t see her doing it, she eloquently and firmly ordered “Sargent Turner- Look at me” as he slowly lifted his head and raised his tear-filled eyes up to hers, he could see that she was saluting him as the remainder of us quietly sobbed a few more tears.

My friends, what can I tell you? Who gets to witness such dignity and pride? One Soldier giving a Falling Soldier one final honor, one final command and one final salute? I ask anyone reading this- how could anything at a gravesite top this final gift given by a treasured friend and fellow member of the Armed Forces?

I have no words…

Cara and I thank you for giving us this moment to treasure among the many sad moments during her final visit with her Dad. There are no words for the traumatic week we have had.

This is dedicated to anyone struggling with cancer, whether you’re the patient or the family. Everyone suffers…