FUNERAL GONE BAD......REAL BAD


TreeStandBowHunter

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I am not sure if I should use these grin.gif or these frown.gif so bear with me here.

Today I can say that I have seen it all. We did a funeral for a Marine WWII Veteran. It was myself and 2 others. I was the one going to present the Flag to the spouse. Anyway, the hurse(sp) pulls up and as always, we render the salute as soon as the casket is brought out of the hurse. We hold the salute until the casket passes us in which at that time, we move over to the casket and one get's at the foot of the casket and the other (me) get's at the head. This is where we stand during the service then after the service, the Marine at the foot folds into me and then I take the Flag and present it to the next of kin.

WELL grin.giffrown.gif, what happened before that will blow your mind. The 6 guys carrying the casket (I guess they were family confused.gif) brought the casket over to the hole where the rack is that sits above the hole. Well they get it close and all of a sudden, BAM grin.giffrown.gif, they dropped the casket and it falls into the hole along with 2 of the carriers. The one carrier falls in the hole feet first with the casket falling on him and the other guy fell in half way with the casket pinning his one leg. Anyway, of course we just stand there because I am certainly not screwing up my uniform plus we are told that we cannot carry the casket or the urn (unless requested to do so by the family). So anyway, this guy is screaming for his life and the other guy is cussing up a storm. THE PREACHER grin.gif is cussing as well. Anyway, an ambulance had to be called for the guy that got his leg crushed and the guy who fell down into the hole, escaped with a torn suit and a sore body for the next month. I DO NOT SEE how someone did not get seriously hurt during all of this.

So anyway the moral of the story, the family was pretty mad. The funeral director blamed it on the cemetery grounds keepers who set the site up. A lot of cussing was going on along with the preacher. The spouse was even more devestated and couldn't stop crying. I had to actually grab her hand at the end and make her take the flag. Everyone there will probably have nightmare for the next 3 months The ground keeper probably got canned and this will probably wind up on the news tonight or in the paper. I will keep you posted grin.gif

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Re: FUNERAL GONE BAD......REAL BAD

Richy in no way is that even remotely funny. I am sorry but I would have been devastated if it would have been a member of my family. And for those of you that have never been a pallbearer, You would not believe how much caskets weigh.

What malfunctioned that made the casket fall? That is rather strange because these guys set up caskets on a daily basis.

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Re: FUNERAL GONE BAD......REAL BAD

[ QUOTE ]

Richy in no way is that even remotely funny. I am sorry but I would have been devastated if it would have been a member of my family. And for those of you that have never been a pallbearer, You would not believe how much caskets weigh.

What malfunctioned that made the casket fall? That is rather strange because these guys set up caskets on a daily basis.

[/ QUOTE ]

DUDE, you know what....not taking Richyrich's side here but he may be laughing at the way I explained it because I do have a habit of explaining things in a funny way. It may not be funny "per say" but it is funny as heck now that I look back. So with that said...

I don't know what caused it. It could of been a combination of the two. They were saying something about the boards not being right at the hole and the one carrier didn't have a grip on it. I don't know but what I do know is someone is going to hear about this if they already havn't grin.gif.

And you know what, I need humor sometimes when it comes to these things. I do so many of them, it get's sickening after a while. Especially doing one for a Marine that was killed. Matter of fact, what's worse it having a Marine get 25lbs of schrapnel about 30 feet away from you. This is my story so therefore I will make it funny if I want too. BTW, cakets ARE VERY HEAVEY...especially if the guy is big wink.gif. That's why I said, I can't believe someone didn't get seriously hurt during this evolution.

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Re: FUNERAL GONE BAD......REAL BAD

Don't get mad at me but it I were a member of that family and I saw, heard, or even thought that someone was trying to laugh at this I would be upset. How would you have felt if it was your grandfather, dad, uncle, or cousin. Yeah you are right caskets are heavy especially when the person is big. My uncle weighed about 260 and he was the first person I ever carried and I thought I was absolutely going to lose an arm carrying him. I can understand how you would feel standing by someone that it could have been you in that box but don't put me down and tell me that you will make it funny if you want too because you want me feel bad for you. I have the feeling that when you die you want those guys to be there doing the same thing for you.

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Re: FUNERAL GONE BAD......REAL BAD

I'm sorry Hutchies, but I see it both ways.....I to would be alarmed and devastaded if this would happen to one of my family.......but I also would be able to laugh at it later....and can now, because it is no one I know......I still have remorse and regret for that particualr family.....but come on, if you can't laugh at the unnusual or seemingly impossible....regardless of the seriousness of the event........

I'm glad the two men are going to be alright, and I pray that the family ....especially the widow, can someday find a happy end to their grieving.....

Now don't get me wrong, if I would have dropped my Grandma years ago, I'd probably have been pretty dang upset and embarrassed.......and I have a lot of respect for my elders......but given time, i would still be able to laugh about it......it's what helps us deal with our problems.........finding humor in our day to day lives.....

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Guest SLBDEERHUNTER

Re: FUNERAL GONE BAD......REAL BAD

After all is said and done I bet the family will eventually get a laugh out of this situation. I remember when my father in law past away, we were all going into the family visitation as a group and my sister in law, one of four daughters got dropped on by a pigeon, everyone had a laugh because she was the one in the family that s...t always happened to growing up, they all said it was dad way of letting them know he was watching, ten years later and we still laugh about that event.

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Re: FUNERAL GONE BAD......REAL BAD

[ QUOTE ]

but don't put me down and tell me that you will make it funny if you want too because you want me feel bad for you. I have the feeling that when you die you want those guys to be there doing the same thing for you.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hutchies, what in the world are you talking about man with all that stuff. First off, OBVIOUSLY nobody laughed there at the funeral...come on man. Secondly, who is trying to make you feel bad about anything confused.gif. I was making a point. You can rest assure though when we got in the van and left, it was all over grin.gif. I did feel bad for the spouse though. She probably felt bad for him. And if it were me in the casket, I wouldn't care because I WOULD BE DEAD! Chuckle Hutchies...trust me...it makes the day go by alot easier grin.gifwink.giftongue.gif

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Re: FUNERAL GONE BAD......REAL BAD

I feel bad for the family too, but I can see them laughing about it further down the road.

[ QUOTE ]

Sorry man but I just don't understand being able to laugh at it. I feel for the family. This is going to be the way they remember their loved one for the rest of their life.

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I would hope a funeral isn't the only way people remember their loved ones. That would be a shame indeed. I can see the family laughing about this later, saying things like "Yeh, Gramps sure loved attention, even to the end", or "Gramps said I'd be in the ground before him, but I didn't think he mean't it that way".

You just have to look at these things on the bright side. Lifes to short, to look at it any other way.

JMO ..

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Re: FUNERAL GONE BAD......REAL BAD

Come on folks. Is it really funny that some people dropped a casket in a 6ft hole right when they were putting it on the bar thingee that lays over the hole or some moron set up the site incorrectly therefore causing 6 guys to drop a casket into a 6ft hole taking 1 1/2 full grown men with it and while all this is going on some poor old lady is watching her husband get bounced around in his casket? NO it really isin't BUT it really is..... Now everybody go to sleep and try not to think of this the next time you go to a funeral because you might find yourself breaking a smile during the midst of mourning smirk.gif Good night everybody and you can sleep well tonight knowing what my signature is saying below grin.gif

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Re: FUNERAL GONE BAD......REAL BAD

shocked.gif but I can see both sides here. I also feel for the family but they will get past the shock and have a grin.gif later in life.

[ QUOTE ]

Now everybody go to sleep and try not to think of this the next time you go to a funeral because you might find yourself breaking a smile during the midst of mourning smirk.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

You just had to say that huh TSBH. I'm sure to remember this at the wrong time now. tongue.gifgrin.gif

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Guest IADEERDUDE

Re: FUNERAL GONE BAD......REAL BAD

im a cemetery supervisior and ive seen alot of crazy things and some real sad ones too, but i have to give a little chuckle at that, cause thats something that just isnt supposed to happen. but i can guess the family was upset at the time but will be laughing later... its one of those can you belive this happend stories and trust me these things happen i had a funeral last year when the hearse arrived every one got out and locked the the doors with the casket still inside i had to call the police to come unlock the doors.... and even the family had a little chuckle at that..... saying figures he is late

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Re: FUNERAL GONE BAD......REAL BAD

oh my goodness..... shocked.gif

I must admit I smirked (ok, giggled) when I read that. **Lord please forgive me!** I know I would definately be mortified if something like that happened to one of my close family members...... but I'm sure everyone would joke about it sometime down the road. smirk.gif

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Re: FUNERAL GONE BAD......REAL BAD

Well, I can see it both ways, and yes, after carrying my grandfather I can attest that caskets are HEAVY. That being said, if something like that were to have happened to us, my grandfather would be laughing his a$$ off at us in heaven lol.

Granted, it would have been an unfortunate situation, but as long as the casket did not come open, then no serious damage was done, aside from the unfortunate souls who fell in the grave with the coffin. Like a few others have said, they'll be thinking back and laughing at this down the road.

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Re: FUNERAL GONE BAD......REAL BAD

Now they are going to have to put seat belts in caskets.... smirk.gif Yeah, that one got me smilin' too, but I always did have a warped sense of humor... shocked.gif

A bad time for the family, but they will most likely laugh about it down the road. If not, at least the guys who fell in the hole will have some good conversation topics for the future. wink.gif

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Re: FUNERAL GONE BAD......REAL BAD

Ah you guys gotta lighten up! No it isn't funny in a traditional sense but it is hillarious on the 'you gotta be kidding me, did that really happen sense'. If it happened on a sitcom, we would be laughing about it.

I wouldn't have laughed then but when re-telling the story later, I would have had to --pardon the pun--die laughing. Not because of "ha ha, look what happened to the poor grieving family" but "can you believe this happened?"

I can only hope that when I go, the latch on the hearse door comes open, the casket slides out, and as I am sliding down the road I hit a bump--the top of the casket flies open--I get flipped upside down--and my bare butt shines for all the world to see in a final great big 'kiss my derrier!'. laugh.gif

Or if I am dropped into the hole, that is fine too as long as I am dropped on an in-law! laugh.gif

Lighten up Francis!

New

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Re: FUNERAL GONE BAD......REAL BAD

The lord has sense of humor too. Maybe he was just trying to lighten the mood.

At the same time, I can see how the widow would have been upset. Her partner for life went away to war, then CAME BACK and is now gone. That is hard on anyones emotions. Hopfully in a few weeks she can look back at it all and chuckle.

I'm part Irish. We have wakes, where we just about fall over laughing remembering the life of some people. ITs good to remember the life, not the death.

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