Escort

By Coco Jane

Roberts. Whitmore. Newsome. Beck. Sign here. Let’s get these brave boys home. Wives and fiancées are waiting. Siblings, parents. Couple of grandmothers. One baby.

Douglas drove slowly in the autumn afternoon rain. He felt so honored to transport these heroes. The men, riding silently, were broken, but they would make it home.

Finally they arrived at St. Ambrose. After each courageous soldier was out of the vehicle, the procession was met by the four families standing under umbrellas, their faces moist in the fading light.

Douglas, saluting, held one door open. A chaplain held the other. The funeral director waited inside.