Flag-draped coffin gives perspective

I was traveling north on I-294 by the 87th Street toll plaza, just rolling along with traffic, listening to the chatter on both the CB and AM talk radio.

The chatter got very quiet. I looked in my right mirror and glanced over one lane. A hearse had come from the manual lanes of the toll plaza and was merging with all the 18 wheelers. I looked at it and just froze in thought. It was a newer hearse, one that had panoramic windows like an old Olds Vista Cruiser.

Inside sat a casket draped in an American Flag tucked tight at the corners, without a hint of a wrinkle showing. The hearse moved over a lane and in front of the truck I was following. How ironic that the truck was pulling a rolling advertisement for "The Few, The Proud." That truck stayed behind him. Some hot shot was coming up on my left when he noticed what was in front of me. He too stayed back. No one wanted to show disrespect to that soldier.

I don't know what moved me to do it but I picked up the mic for my radio and simply said, "God bless ya, Soldier". Someone got on and said, "Thank you, driver; you said it for all of us."

We followed that hearse for another couple miles until he put on his signal and moved over to the right to exit onto I-55 southbound. I warned the drivers on I-55 of the hearse carrying a soldier home. I don't know if he was an old veteran or one of the many casualties that are inflicted upon us every day in the Middle East. But I do know this; I cried - and all my problems became so insignificant because of a flag-draped coffin.

You're home, soldier. Thank you and God bless you.

Ray Vegter

Carol Stream