I was speechless...(this post contains no humor)

Many of you know me and know that I am very rarely at a loss for words. At the very least, I can find humor in just about everything, but what I saw on Friday was inspiring. By now you have probably heard about the Charleston 9. The brave firefighters who lost their lives last week. Friday was the memorial service and processional. I happened to be in West Ashley on Friday and as I drove past the scene of the accident, it finally hit me. You see, as I was listening to the news on Monday night, and heard the stories for days, it was falling on deaf ears so to speak. I have a tendency to suffer from apathy. I didn't know anyone in the fire, and I don't think I even know someone who knows someone in the fire. So needless to say I felt a little removed from the story. But as I drove by the charred Sofa Superstore on Friday it all came crashing in on me. Honestly, I had to fight back the tears. I am not the wordsmith that my beautiful wife is, so I won't even begin to describe the sense of mourning I felt as I drive by. As I continued down Savannah Hwy there were scores and scores of people lined along the road. It soon became apparent that I wasn't going to be able to get to my destination, so I pulled over into a parking lot.
The processional lasted for about 30 minutes and it was said that every state in the nation was represented in the processional. I don't know if that is true or not, but there were several Fire Trucks from places I had never heard of. There was a truck from New Orleans, several from the Upstate, one from Charlotte, some from VA, and many from New Jersey. These were the ones I saw. It lasted for about 30 minutes and there wasn't a dry eye in the house. Again, words can't describe the scene.
For the first time in a very long time I was proud to be a part of this city, of this state, and of this country.
Please continue to pray for the Firemen and their families.