TWTWTW 2006.44: 56572-3

Flannel shirts. Chore gloves. A Cowboy Hat.
Service to country, county and community.

Last weekend was a tough one for 56572. In a span of about thirty-six hours we lost three loved ones.

Malcolm Lee had a simple memorial service. Otter Tail County top brass were present to remember the man who gave so much to his community. Not much was said. No speeches and such, just how Mac would have wanted it. Mac was a quiet guy. He would basically sneak into the Cornfield Cafe, take his pace at the counter, eat and quietly leave. If you would have told anybody that guy is a politician, nobody would have believed you. Mac came and went quietly. We like guys like that.

Harold Marty's very used Chevy pickup he bought from ISD548, The Bone Truck, as the family called it, was parked outside St. Leonard's. but Harold finally got a ride in a Cadillac. The hearse driver forgot that Harold usually stayed off Broadway and used West Mill. Harold went down Broadway without any police escort. He is buried under the Tree of Life (arborvitae) on the high ground in the southwest corner of St. Leonard's cemetery southwest of town in what must be Plot number 1. He is eagle-eyeing and watchdogging 56572 and the cemetery, back over his shoulder Norwegian Grove Township. If a tornado approaches 56572 from the southwest, Harold will start the sirens. Harold Jr., an Army colonel, came home from Iraq to be with Dad during his final days to take care of Mom as Dad would have wanted and lead Dad's funeral service. Harold Jr's uniform was highly decorated. Like Mac, Harold Sr. preferred flannel shirts. He is wearing one, under his navy blue bus driver jacket with burn holes in both sleeves, his pickup license tabs still in his pocket. On the roof of his pine casket is a banner with his motto "Take it easy down the road." In the funeral bulletin, above Psalm 23 and a photo of Harold and Mary on what looks like a joyride, the words "Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a ride!" Harold's family sprinkled the Holy Water on his casket wearing the chore gloves Harold would have wanted them to have on. Harold was also a politician, about as grass root a guy as they come.

Troy Schultz served his country in Cuba, Korea and twice in Iraq since leaving 56572 fifteen years ago. He came home from Korea to deer hunt, just like Josh Hanson had planned to do from Iraq. We are thankful for his black cowboy hat which led searchers to find him yesterday. His friends are grieving on the myspace page Troy created for his friends to gather. All over the world, but on the same page. Troy would have liked that.

This community spent Week 44 searching for Troy. How many hours were spent walking through the sloughs and woods of Pelican Township looking for Marlboro Light cigarette butts and a black cowboy hat? How many hours did mannned and unmanned aircraft fly looking for Troy? Even the search dogs got frustrated. Now there can be closure. 56572 is mourning the loss of all three men who showed us what service to country, community and family is all about.

Let them say what they want to say about 56572. This week 56572 proved what kind of community 56572 is. What legacy did these three men leave? Did their service leave you an example to follow? Would you dare? Think about that on your deer stand. Veteran's Day is a week away.