Pastoral Consolation: Chaplain Philip King
The beginning of this week, AW2 Michael Freeman died of several strokes, surrounded by his sister, his Commanding Officer, and his best friends. In this place we now gather our many different beliefs, and join them in aprayer of hope. This ceremony is not a time for explanations or justifications, though our questions hang just outside reach; and this is not a time of recriminations or accusations, although anger is part of our emotions; this place is a sanctuary, and for this service we must seek to lay aside the judgment that can so fill wounded hearts. We are here to find God's peace amid the broken fragments of shattered hope. And in finding peace, then carrying on. Today, create sanctuary in your heart for Michael's life and his memories.
This Chapel is a place of safety, where we come to honor our shipmate and friend. Some of you knew him well, others -like me- not at all; but we gather with his sister Meggon, his dear friends, his squadron and shipmates as his community, his extended family, because we together must squarely face the circumstances of his death without losing the essence of his life; for his life, like all lives, are a gift; and here, now, we seek to release Michael's spirit from among us, while still retaining those feelings and memories which continue to have power to endear him to our hearts.
AE1 Olmstead (Michael's LPO) told me that Michael was an outstanding Petty Officer and Aircrew man. For those who may not know, men like Michael comes to work not knowing what crisis might fill their day; and it's not unusual for them to end up hovering over flaming wreckage, or a wrecked snowmobile planning a rescue. Men like Michael will jump from an aircraft into freezing water with fuel burning on top, to save an injured pilot with little regard for his own safety. Michael's life was defined by his dedication to others, his intense sense of obligation and commitment, and his amazing good nature. But then many of you already know this abouthim. I was told Michael had three great loves; he was devoted to his dogs- indeed his only request of the shop on his behalf was to be able to go home at lunch so he could let his dogs out. He loved working out, and AE1 told me his favorite exercise was hanging from a bar with inversion boots and doing sit-ups. And Michael was particular about eating well and using nutrition supplements; he planned in fact to get out of the Navy and go to College to major in Physical Education and health, and be a personal trainer. It is truly ironic that one so dedicated to preserving life and to good health should be taken by a stroke; and we who remain are left to ponder this fragility of life. His loss is the loss of his family, it is the loss of his friends here; it is the loss of his colleagues at SAR, and his shipmates in the lineshack; today we are all less for his tragic and untimely death.
George C. Scott once remarked that the human spirit is stronger than anything that can happen to it; including death. And if anyone epitomized that declaration, it was Michael Freeman. This afternoon, we gather in the quiet of this place to pay our tribute and respect to this child of God. At 29, Michael Freeman entered this stage of history not so many years ago, and in his brief life, he was privileged to act on this mortal stage, and to play his part exceedingly well. Now the curtain falls; he moves through the exit; the drama of his earthly lifecomes to a close. But his passion for duty and excellence is some of the essence of him that remains. Though Michael is now committed back to that eternity from which he came, we here are his witnesses that his life touched and changed this world for the better; the new friends his crisis has drawn together - his beautiful dogs that Brianna and her husband are adopting - the space in our hearts where his absence echoes and calls us to believe in a better day.
Every country, every race has its own way of burying their dead. The rear sepulchers and shrouds, graves and mausoleums. The American Indians sent their deceased to the great hunting ground in the sky; sailors go to Davy Jones Locker. The Norsemen sent their dead to Valhalla while in Greek legend their spirits found their Heaven in the Elysian Fields. Yet whether we believe in the Buddhist Nirvana or the Christian Paradise we all share the same feelings of loss and grief when we lose someone we love, someone we knew, someone that touched our lives.
This memorial gives us away to express that grief and to say our good-byes, or to simply stand in silence before the mystery of life and death. Such a tribute belongs to Michael's friends and colleagues, to all of you; for you are his church, his congregation, his family. Michael Freeman contributed to our lives, to the mission of the Navy, to the security of our country; but he did much more, by touching the lives he met with friendship and love. It is fitting that we should publicly proclaim and honor him, as well as remember and take from here his friendship in our hearts. Many have died serving our great nation, and are unfortunately not the last. Michael stands among them. It is our duty now to catch the torch he was privileged to hold, honor our brother, remember his hope, and carry on.
Chaplain Philip King
This Chapel is a place of safety, where we come to honor our shipmate and friend. Some of you knew him well, others -like me- not at all; but we gather with his sister Meggon, his dear friends, his squadron and shipmates as his community, his extended family, because we together must squarely face the circumstances of his death without losing the essence of his life; for his life, like all lives, are a gift; and here, now, we seek to release Michael's spirit from among us, while still retaining those feelings and memories which continue to have power to endear him to our hearts.
AE1 Olmstead (Michael's LPO) told me that Michael was an outstanding Petty Officer and Aircrew man. For those who may not know, men like Michael comes to work not knowing what crisis might fill their day; and it's not unusual for them to end up hovering over flaming wreckage, or a wrecked snowmobile planning a rescue. Men like Michael will jump from an aircraft into freezing water with fuel burning on top, to save an injured pilot with little regard for his own safety. Michael's life was defined by his dedication to others, his intense sense of obligation and commitment, and his amazing good nature. But then many of you already know this abouthim. I was told Michael had three great loves; he was devoted to his dogs- indeed his only request of the shop on his behalf was to be able to go home at lunch so he could let his dogs out. He loved working out, and AE1 told me his favorite exercise was hanging from a bar with inversion boots and doing sit-ups. And Michael was particular about eating well and using nutrition supplements; he planned in fact to get out of the Navy and go to College to major in Physical Education and health, and be a personal trainer. It is truly ironic that one so dedicated to preserving life and to good health should be taken by a stroke; and we who remain are left to ponder this fragility of life. His loss is the loss of his family, it is the loss of his friends here; it is the loss of his colleagues at SAR, and his shipmates in the lineshack; today we are all less for his tragic and untimely death.
George C. Scott once remarked that the human spirit is stronger than anything that can happen to it; including death. And if anyone epitomized that declaration, it was Michael Freeman. This afternoon, we gather in the quiet of this place to pay our tribute and respect to this child of God. At 29, Michael Freeman entered this stage of history not so many years ago, and in his brief life, he was privileged to act on this mortal stage, and to play his part exceedingly well. Now the curtain falls; he moves through the exit; the drama of his earthly lifecomes to a close. But his passion for duty and excellence is some of the essence of him that remains. Though Michael is now committed back to that eternity from which he came, we here are his witnesses that his life touched and changed this world for the better; the new friends his crisis has drawn together - his beautiful dogs that Brianna and her husband are adopting - the space in our hearts where his absence echoes and calls us to believe in a better day.
Every country, every race has its own way of burying their dead. The rear sepulchers and shrouds, graves and mausoleums. The American Indians sent their deceased to the great hunting ground in the sky; sailors go to Davy Jones Locker. The Norsemen sent their dead to Valhalla while in Greek legend their spirits found their Heaven in the Elysian Fields. Yet whether we believe in the Buddhist Nirvana or the Christian Paradise we all share the same feelings of loss and grief when we lose someone we love, someone we knew, someone that touched our lives.
This memorial gives us away to express that grief and to say our good-byes, or to simply stand in silence before the mystery of life and death. Such a tribute belongs to Michael's friends and colleagues, to all of you; for you are his church, his congregation, his family. Michael Freeman contributed to our lives, to the mission of the Navy, to the security of our country; but he did much more, by touching the lives he met with friendship and love. It is fitting that we should publicly proclaim and honor him, as well as remember and take from here his friendship in our hearts. Many have died serving our great nation, and are unfortunately not the last. Michael stands among them. It is our duty now to catch the torch he was privileged to hold, honor our brother, remember his hope, and carry on.
Chaplain Philip King
posted by mikeysfriends at 8:17 AM
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