The Stories He Could Tell

 It was a solemn day.  This is the funeral of Frank, Francisco Valenzuela Peredes, better known as Red Feather to his friends.  Oh the stories this man could tell.  I would not normally post a funeral on my blog, but this one was extra special.  I mean who gets to have FOUR funerals?  I'm sure Frank was smiling the entire time!!

First off we all met at the Catholic Church for service number one.  I don't happen to be Catholic, but this was a beautiful funeral. They had a choir that sang amazing songs.  I have to admit however, the Priest apparently wasn't from the U.S. originally, and his accent was so strong I could only make out a few words here and there.  Yes the service was in English!  Frank was smiling!

Interestingly enough, Frank was in the Korean War.  So was the Priest.  He made the service even more special by thanking Frank in the Korean language, for saving them and their families.  You could hear the tears.  Frank was smiling!

Frank will be buried next to his wife and son who both proceeded him.  While waiting to begin, a very long freight train came by, blowing his horn the longest I have ever heard.  How nice of them to do that ... a tribute to Frank and the American Flag.  That was followed by a helicopter that flew overhead and hovered over the funeral.  Frank must have orchestrated that one, because it's never happened before that I know of.

The next one was the official Elks Lodge service.  Frank loved being at the lodge.  Not able to go alone, one of our members drove him every Tuesday night to Bingo.  Yessirree ... Frank was a bingo aficionado.  He didn't play, but he helped sell tickets.  I'm sure Frank was smiling.

The THIRD service was something you've probably never heard before.  This lady ... I don't know her name ... sang the National Anthem amazingly.  Then she sang the Indian Warrior song.  Red Feather was smiling BIG here!!

Service number FOUR was provided by the Veterans Honor Guard.  Yes, I started out taking pictures in front of these guys who suggested I stand a little further back.  Why I asked?  You're not using real bullets are you???  We laughed ....  and I'm sure Frank was laughing too.  

And then they played taps.  I don't think there was a dry eye in the cemetery.  

The last celebration was at the Elks Park outside of town.  There was food, an entire Mariachi Band and Corona beer because that was Frank's favorite.  Well, except for the fire water he drank quite often, Fireball.  

He lived an amazing 103 years and survived three wars, not without injury.  Before the Air Force actually became the Air Force, they would put anyone up in a plane.  He volunteered to be a gunner.  The plane got shot down, whereupon he had to jump out with a parachute.  Frank had never done that before in his life.  He got hit on the way down, but lived to fight another day. 

He was at Pearl Harbor in the barracks when they got hit.  Instead of running away, he ran towards the ships, grabbed a machine gun and began shooting.  He picked up a few extra bullets that time, one of which stayed in his chin for twenty years.  He's a hero this guy!!

So God Bless You Red Feather and may you Rest In Peace.  I know he's in Heaven, I mean really, he had FOUR funerals in one day and watched a big celebration with his family and friends, which he would think was just dandy.  I know Frank is up there smiling!!!