Pilgrimage (The New World) (4 page)

Ross was greeted with multiple questions concerning where he had been, and did he know where his sister was. Through a series of half sentences as he tried to regain his breath, Ross informed the sheriff and his father of returning the pie plate, and Jessica’s security at the Wright’s house down the road. Then it was his turn to ask some questions about the ambulance and his Grandpa Hank, but the verbal answer of the horrible truth became unnecessary as the medical team emerged from the house with a sheet covered occupant on the gurney. The men from the ambulance reported to all present that it appeared to be a massive heart attack, and there was nothing that anybody could have done for Hank. The news was shocking to Ross, whose last words to his grandpa had been along the lines of “See you in a little while.” Hank had been so full of life just a short time before as they ate breakfast together, and now he was gone forever.

With the body loaded into the ambulance, Robert assured the sheriff that he would come down to the hospital later that day to fill out whatever forms were necessary, but first he would need some time to gather up Jessica and have a talk with his two children. The sheriff nodded with agreement, and then followed the ambulance towards the hospital.

Jessica was the first to notice the return of the two vehicles that had sped towards her house, but this time they drove by slowly with no sirens or lights turned on. Elizabeth Wright tried to get the attention of the sheriff as he drove by, but Robert had asked him not to do anything that might tip off little Jessica. Elizabeth knew all too well the meaning of an ambulance returning from a scene at a slow and quiet speed. Either everything was just fine, or the worst had happened. She also knew that whatever the case may be, she had an extra little girl to watch over until informed differently.

Following the suggestion of Ross, Robert agreed a long walk to clear his head was in order. That would ultimately be safer than driving over to the Wright’s place and it would give the two of them a chance to discuss how to break the news of Grandpa Hank’s death to Jessica. The time to cover the half mile walk was somewhere between the deliberately slow pace Ross had set with Jessica, and the frantic sprint of his return to the house. During the walk Robert and Ross had one of their best conversations in recent years. It was just a shame that such a devastating circumstance had been necessary to create more of an open dialogue between father and son.

As they opened and moved through the front gate, Elizabeth stood from the bench on the front porch. In an act of pure habit she smoothed the front of her dress to become more presentable for her company, but she knew it was wasted motion. The facial expressions of Robert and Ross showed her that her appearance would go un-noticed because the worst had happened.

Patty and Jessica were playing inside the house, so Ross was sent in to retrieve them while the two adults conferred. When they all returned, Robert picked up Jessica and put her in his lap as he sat down on the front porch bench. A few seconds later she was crying in her father’s arms, and Ross began to weep as well. He had been strong up to that point fearing that crying was a sign of weakness, but he knew that Patty and her mother wouldn’t hold it against him. A short time later Robert thanked Elizabeth for keeping an eye on Jessica, and she offered the service anytime he needed help. In spite of her leg now being rested enough for the walk home, Jessica rode home with teary brown eyes on her father’s shoulders as the three of them trudged onward in quiet contemplation.

NEWS OF GRANDPA
Hank’s death spread through the town quickly, and the weekend went by in a blur. Robert had contacted Fort Hood to request some emergency leave for the arrangements of the upcoming funeral, and the elementary school had been notified that Ross and Jessica would be absent at least one day during their final week of class.

It was very strange for Ross and Jessica on Monday morning to be riding to school in their father’s car as opposed to Grandpa Hank’s truck, and Ross got a blank stare from his father when he reached out his arm for the parting handshake. At the diner, Hank’s friends whom he shared coffee and conversation with every Monday through Friday raised their cups in tribute to a fallen veteran, and Mable shed a tear.

The funeral had been set for Wednesday morning before it got too hot, and the majority of the town came to the cemetery for the service. Before leaving the house that morning, Robert had a few quiet moments with Ross. He handed him a necklace with a small shiny emblem attached that had belonged to Grandpa Hank, and informed Ross that it had been his grandpas wish that he be given the necklace when he passed away.

Ross had of course seen the necklace many times before, and had spoken to his grandpa about the origin of the emblem on several occasions. He thought it had been a secret between the two of them, but apparently Robert knew all about the origin as well. Ross immediately put the necklace on, and then loosened his shirt and tie so that he could wear it inside of the clothes just as his grandpa had always done. Robert patted his son on the shoulder as Ross readjusted his tie, and then asked him to go check on his sister.

The family sat together in quiet reverence as the color guard from Fort Hood carried the coffin to the gravesite. One of the many arrangements that Robert had taken care of during recent days was to ensure that his father received a proper military funeral. Retired United States Army Major Henry (Hank) Martin would get the sendoff he so richly deserved, because his length of service during both war and peacetime had earned him such an honor. The only miscalculation on Robert’s part was the twenty-one gun salute, as the loud noise had startled Jessica and made her scream.

As the American flag draped upon Hank’s coffin was folded with precision into a white star-filled triangle of blue, the solemn sound of taps was played by the lone trumpet player nearby. All the retired and active duty military personnel in attendance snapped to attention and saluted their comrade in arms, while Mable, Elizabeth, and many of the other women shed several more tears.

The flag was then presented to Hank’s son Lieutenant Colonel Robert Martin on behalf of a grateful nation, while Ross comforted his little sister. Robert then stood in front of Ross to present the flag to him, and whispered into his ear a message that would resonate for years to come. He told Ross that his wish was for him to keep this flag for the remainder of his life in remembrance of the sacrifices that his grandpa had made for America, and that he someday pass Robert’s burial flag onto one of his own children in similar style. Ross stood and saluted to accept the honor of the flag, while pledging aloud to fulfill the desire of his father. It became crystal clear to him at that instant what his destiny would be, and he had his grandfather to thank for the motivational inspiration.

ON THE MORNING
of June 7
^th
, 1968, Ross made sure the necklace that once belonged to his grandpa was safely tucked inside his shirt collar, as he fastened the top button and adjusted his tie. Due largely in part to the upcoming event, this particular Friday was going to be better than most, and he wanted to get on with it. Now standing a few inches over six feet tall, the seventeen year-old was about to complete the last compulsory event of his high school years by delivering a speech during commencement as the valedictorian of his graduating class of fifty-one students.

Jessica soon appeared at his bedroom door to see how her older brother was doing, and gave him a big smile and kiss on his check before fine tuning the knot of his tie. Even though the tie was already perfect, she couldn’t resist the temptation because Ross had done so many things over the years to assist her. The team of brother and sister had grown even closer throughout the past seven years, and had learned how to rely on each other more than their father. That in effect made this day of celebration for Ross somewhat bitter sweet for Jessica. Her big brother was about to graduate high school, and in a few weeks’ time would leave town for his appointment to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Although that represented a tremendous opportunity for him, she was concerned about how she would do without him being around. At least Patty would still be in town for one more year to help Jessica with the transition into high school.

As the two of them made their way downstairs, their father Robert was waiting for them. He smiled and said how proud he was of both of them for how mentally strong they had become. Although there had been times in the past when he had let them both down, today he was completely sober and focused on the upcoming graduation and ensuing celebration.

Robert informed the two of them to let Elizabeth Wright know he would be along to pick her up in a few minutes, as she had agreed to sit with him during the ceremony and then be his date for the party afterwards. Although no romance had ever blossomed between the two of them over the years, they had become closer friends as the relationship between Ross and Patty had become romantic. Elizabeth had also been a tremendous help in raising his daughter Jessica since Grandpa Hank had passed away, and Robert was grateful that she was around to help with some of the challenges that a girl goes through as she becomes a young woman.

For what would be the last time, Ross and Jessica climbed into grandpa’s old pickup to go retrieve Patty for the ride to school. In spite of still wearing the brace on her right leg, Jessica no longer needed help getting in and out of the truck as she did when she was a little girl. Even so, Ross still held the door open for her as he had been taught by his grandpa.

As they slowly approached Patty’s house to avoid kicking up a lot of dust, she stood from the bench on the front porch where she and Ross had spent so much time talking about the future. Patty was wearing the same light blue dress that she had worn to the prom a few weeks prior, and looked beautiful with her long blond hair pulled up and back for the special occasion. Jessica climbed down from the truck to greet her while Ross delivered the message from his father to Mrs. Wright, and then returned to hold the door open for his girlfriend and little sister. During the previous few years after Ross had learned how to drive, the three of them had gone to school every day in the old pickup as they had done before Hank had passed away. The only difference now was that Jessica had a window seat because Patty wanted to sit next to Ross as he drove.