As the car left the driveway, Sam went back to his room. He vacuumed it and took his clothes from the previous day and put them in the wash. While waiting for the load in the dryer to be done, he did some pushups.
By the time he got to fifty, he began to feel the tightness in his arms that he wanted to feel. He jumped to his feet and looked around again. Rose had shown him where the computer was during the tour last night. He knew he couldn't sign onto his old social media page. Seeing a green online marker on a dead guy's profile would be suspicious at best. At worst he would be getting hate mail from all of his loved ones. He didn't want to do that to them.
Instead, he used Rose's social media page to reach his. When he did, his heart ached. He saw his mother and father standing at his grave. They had decided to bury him in Arlington National Cemetary. They believed he would be at peace surrounded by his fallen brothers and sisters. His hand trembled as he clicked on the video that was placed on his wall. The title said 'Rest easy brother, we've got this.'
He saw his mother cry into her husband's shoulder. He saw his brother standing to the side a ways, a look of pure loss plastered on his face. A crowd of loved ones, both family and soldiers stood to the back of grieving three. Sam could feel hot tears fall from his eyes, yet he did not openly sob. He watched the somber moment while six soldiers made up the casket team, carrying his body down the large stretch of road. He recognized each one.
Simmons and Jacobs carried the rear of the casket while Ryan and Manning carried the middle. The front was Martinez and Collins. Prideful tears ran down Sam's face as he saw the hidden meaning in the way they carried him. Not one asked to be replaced. Simmons and Jacobs took the rear because he had gotten to him first. Ryan and Manning took the center due to their order in which he found them. Martinez and Collins took the front. He could see the tears fall from the two in front, yet they remained stone in expression. Sam was just glad that the two soldiers didn't get caught up in the explosion.
They carried the casket as if it were no burden, because they knew that he took all of it from them. When they placed the casket on the ground, it was in front of the funeral party, no time sooner.
His squad took a flag and ceremoniously unfolded it onto his casket and his family was seated. The Sergeant in charge stepped away as the chaplain took his place. There was a beautiful service. His mother never stopped crying, and his brother just looked dead inside, but held it together for his family's sake.
As the chaplain finished his service, Sam openly wept. The sergeant in charge took the place of the chaplain and asked his family to rise for honors. The speaker blaired to life as the mournful sound of taps filled it. While playing, shots were heard in the distance. He didn't need to count, Sam knew there would be twenty-one fired.
After the last remaining echo of rifle fire left the cemetary, his squad folded the flag that was atop his casket and handed it to his mother. Each one either patting her on the shoulder, or openly hugging her while joining in her grief.
As the service was ended, his family stayed with the casket. His squad as well. They talked well into the day until the clip ended. Sergeant Sam Reid's body had finally been laid to rest. Yet his soul openly cried from states away.