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Saying Goodbye to a Fallen Tomball TX Marine!

By
Real Estate Agent with Results Realty

Yesterday when I attended my monthly meeting of the Tomball Business and Professional Women I found out that a young Tomball marine had been killed by an improvised explosive device while on tour in Afghanistan.  They mentioned that a motorcade would be bringing his body to Klein Funeral home that afternoon.  As I was driving home I saw everyone lined up so parked my car and with my flip mino in one hand and a flag I carry in my trunk in the other hand I waited to pay my respects.

A marine helicopter followed the hearse as it traveled from David Hook's airport down Main street to Klein Funeral Home.  The video I shot is a bit long at 7 minutes but I could not bring myself to cut any of it.  There was a 100 car/motorcycle motorcade with people lined on both sides of the street waving flags saying their goodbye to our fallen Tomball hero.

As many of you know our son just got out of the Army this last June.  He did two tours of Iraq and this is something that is always in the back of your mind.  I feel so sorry for this family.  Cpl. Jeffrey Johnson was just 21 years old and left a wife, father, mother, stepmother and three siblings.  Please keep this family in your prayers as well as all our brave soldiers who serve to protect us.  Freedom is not free and Jeffrey made the ultimate sacrifice.

To see a full story by one of our local news stations please click here.

The first thing I did when I got back in my car was to call our son; because I could.

Comments(29)

Marchel Peterson
Results Realty - Spring, TX
Spring TX Real Estate E-Pro

LOREENA, He was so young.  That was the age that our son was during his first tour of Iraq.  He tells me now that there were several times that he came close to death. I'm glad he waited to tell me the things that happened during that first tour after he was totally out of the service.  It is so very sad.  The funeral will be tomorrow.

HANNAH, They are so brave and it is so sad when one falls.  There are some things we just won't ever understand.

KAREN ANNE, Thanks for your kind words!  It is so hard to understand when they die so young.  He was the same age that our son was during his first tour of Iraq. That was an awful time as our son was at a small base that was mortared the entire time that he was there.  I will be so happy when our young men and women are out of harms way. 

 

 

May 19, 2010 04:12 PM
Melissa Anderson
Be My Neighbor Mortgage - San Antonio, TX
Your Texas Lender
Music was not needed. The sound of the police cars at the start of the video took my breath away and brought tears to my eyes. Yes it could be any young man or woman serving our country. It was a very raw moment for me. My young brother is a Marine, finished his tour, and for that I'm so thankful. I'm glad you have your son as well. God bless this family.
May 19, 2010 04:19 PM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Marchel, at 21 years of age, he was still a baby.  Scenes like this are the cold reality of war.

May 19, 2010 04:29 PM
Sidney Kutchuk - Realty Works Temecula Kutchuk - Realty Works Temecula
Realty Works Temecula - Temecula, CA
Realty Works Temecula

Marchel:  Thank you for acknowledging Cpl. Jeffrey Johnson, This is the very sad part of the reality of our current times.   I will keep his family in my prayers as well.

May 20, 2010 04:25 AM
Cherise Selley
Selley Group Real Estate, LLC - Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs Realtor

Marchel,

Just said a prayer on behalf of his family and friends.

May 20, 2010 06:11 AM
Kate Kate
San Diego, CA

Marchel, Freedom indeed is not free. Thank you.

May 20, 2010 01:58 PM
Debi Boucher
Real Estate Showcase Photography - Woodland Park, CO
"Realtor Showcase" - Real Estate Photography/Virtual Tours

Thank you for this important reminder, Marchel.

May 21, 2010 12:45 PM
Sharon Alters
Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty - 904-673-2308 - Fleming Island, FL
Realtor - Homes for Sale Fleming Island FL

Marchel, what a moving tribute to this young man and the sacrifice he and his family have made for our country. Freedom isn't free.

May 21, 2010 05:27 PM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Marchel  That is a real American display of love and respect for our brave young men and women in the military - thank you for stopping and sharing   Karen

May 22, 2010 03:05 AM
Debbie Walsh
SHAHAR Management - Middletown, NY
Hudson Valley NY Real Estate 845.283-3036

Marchel what a terrible tragedy.  Thanks to him and his fellow soldiers for all they do for this country.

May 22, 2010 09:03 AM
Peter and Dawn Smith
Circle Shot Media - Vancouver, WA
Hi Marchel, Thank you for sharing this and also for stopping to pay your respects. My father was a pilot and I come from a long line of military family. My heart and prayers go out to his family, as well as to his friends and fellow soldiers. May God bring them all home safely. As I watched this video, my heart was filled with pride and my eyes were full of tears. My father is burried in a presidio in California and had a military burial as well. That was 11 years ago today. Thanks for sharing your patriotism with us. God bless. Dawn
May 23, 2010 07:15 PM
Al & Peggy Cunningham, Brokers
RE/MAX West Realty Inc., Brokerage - Brampton, ON
Our Family Wants To Help Your Family!

Marchel, words can not express how your post made us feel...and then your words, "I called my son, just because I could". Powerful words, lets all call all our family members, just because we can. Thanks Marchel and God Bless you and your son. 

May 24, 2010 02:34 AM
John Lake
Shamrock Home Loans - Mashpee, MA
Sarasota and Cape Cod Mortgage Ba

To the brave men and women our our armed forces, Memorial Day should be a day that we take time to honor them and be thankful that they are there for us.  

May 24, 2010 02:51 AM
1~Judi Barrett
Integrity Real Estate Services 116 SE AVE N, Idabel, OK 74745 - Idabel, OK
BS Ed, Integrity Real Estate Services -IDABEL OK

Marchel, I'm so glad that you stopped and shot the video.  When I saw your title, I thought of your son home safely also. 

May 24, 2010 02:17 PM
Bill Gassett
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Hopkinton, MA
Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate

Marchel I am sure this hits close to home with your son being so heavily involved. It is always sad to hear about those that don't make it while fighting for our country.

May 25, 2010 12:41 AM
Ron Holborn
Short Sales, Foreclosures, Rentals, Income Real Estate - Anaheim, CA
Commercial & SFR, Anaheim CA, Real Estate & Short

Marchel,  We had a similar memorial recently in our town too., very sad. It was nice to see the turn out and all the support. It passed right by our office en route to the cemetary, it was very moving to say the least!!

May 27, 2010 07:57 AM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

These losses of our nation's finest are never easy.  Last autumn, we lost a neighbor.  He had returned from his third tour to Iraq/Afghanistan, but wasn't quite the same this last time. 

He was trying to find recovery from the battles still waged in his mind.  However, he lost that battle to suicide.  We haven't quite gotten over it!

May 27, 2010 09:48 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Marchel, your video is very moving.  It's so hard to lose someone so young.

May 27, 2010 05:32 PM
Tom Braatz Waukesha County Real Estate 262-377-1459
Coldwell Banker - Oconomowoc, WI
Waukesha County Realtor Real Estate agent. SOLD!

Marchel

Very moving and how tragic. I am glad you could call your son and I feel for that family that lost such a young life.

May 28, 2010 09:44 AM
Ted Baker
Carmody and Associates LLC - Winter Haven, FL
MidFloridaMediation.com

You are one of the lucky mothers whose son came home.  But the sacrifices that he and your family made were just as real in terms of the risks taken and the discomfort and worry for him and his family.  

You understand that freedom is not free and you and your family have answered the call.  

Thank you and thank your son for his service to all of us.  

 

May 29, 2010 05:00 PM