Chapter 14
Near Mason City, IA
David
THE GRAVESIDE SERVICE was simple but effective. After the minister pronounced his final benediction, there was a salute with rifles, and a man in uniform whom I hadn’t noticed, way off to one side, played taps. Then the officer in charge motioned Kevin and me to the casket, and we went through the ritual of folding the flag, after which Kevin presented it to his grandmother. The smile she gave him through her silent tears was priceless.
We sat quietly while a parade of well-wishers paid their respects. Kevin’s mother was the last in line, and his grandmother asked her to ride back to the farm with us. Mrs. Simpson asked me to get in front with Kevin, and she and her daughter got in the backseat.
When we had gone perhaps a mile down the road, Kevin’
