On Friday, October 16th Wake Forest was the site of the funeral of a man who was the husband of a member of the Wake Forest community. He served for many years as a police officer of the city of Winston Salem. The stories I have heard about him tell me he was a fair and just man who treated the people he interacted with, including those he was arresting, with dignity and respect. His friends, colleagues and family remain in the thoughts and prayers of the WF Catholic Community.

The events of October 16th were designed to commemorate the life of this man and were attended by hundreds (thousands?) of men and women from far and wide. The brick sidewalk which encircles Hearn Plaza ("The Quad") was lined on both sides with men and women in uniform, from sheriff's departments, municipal police forces, the highway patrol and more. I did not attend the funeral, but I paid my respects along with a dozen other people, standing outside the quad but watching a powerful and solemn procession around the quad by a team of horses from the cassion unit.

We stood silently and respectfully watching the horses walk the circle, the men and women on the quad saluting and standing at attention as they passed by, carrying the coffin. I was deeply moved by the solemnity and the respect displayed. A riderless horse followed the cassion and was another powerful symbol. All of this was orchestrated with an amazing amount of respect, dignity and solemnity. The day before, I watched as the men and women who volunteer with the "NC Troopers Association Caisson Unit" readied the horses, and familiarized them with the quad around which they would walk on Friday. It was beautiful to see them treat the horses with respect and love. These horses have served iat many funeral processions, including that of a former President of the United States.

It is hard for humans to commemorate these moments in life which are unspeakably profound.

Yet, everyone who planned and participated in this event worked together to point us all toward the sacredness of the moment. Their silence, their standing of attention, the horses' presence and the horses' past training and experience all combined to create an atmosphere of awe. I commend  those people of the Caisson Unit for helping to create a sacred moment in the midst of the chaos and mundanity.

God bless the friends, family and colleagues of the man commemorated by this event.

Website of the NC Troopers Association Caisson Unit