The viewing went smoothly yesterday. Murf is well loved by his friends and families, as one can tell by the stream of people coming in never stopped the entire time for both sessions, and the end of the line was all the way outside the building!
Although I do not work at the academy, I was able to bring with me a personal coin and a personal letter expressing his deepest sympathy from the superintendent, along with the condolences from the Command and the Brigade Master Chiefs.
Murf's Plebe son gave his eulogy at the funeral mass today. The atmosphere was solemn with a couple bursts of laughters. I was in my Service Dress Blues as one of the pallbearers per the family's request, and was able to exchange many good stories about Murf with his friends and families afterwards. I shared with them the support poured in from this anonymous forum: that how much Murf was liked and respected for his contributions to strangers he never met, but positively impacted by him!
I will be traveling back with his son tomorrow, and return him to the love and support of his company, the battalion and the brigade.
Rest In Peace, Murf! You will not be forgotten!!!
V/r,
KT