Saying Goodbye at 25

This past week my hometown laid to rest another victim of the war in Iraq - Steven Seale. I was at work when the funeral took place, but the next day our newspaper was laden with photos of it. One of the photos contained a picture of a guy that was my Chemistry II partner in high school. He was embracing Steven Seale's girlfriend after the funeral. It was chilling to say the least. Personally, I think funerals are a private affair and should not be plastered across the newspaper. Several community members stood along the road that the funeral procession went down. There were tiny American flags lining the road. Several law enforcement officers also stood proudly along the route. People took their hats off as the casket past, some soluted - but I think it's safe to say that most choked back tears. It's always sad when someone has to say goodbye at the age of 25. He leaves behind a family stricken with grief, several close friends, a girlfriend, and sadly, a small daughter.