Funeral service of General John Kerry Davis, U.S. Marine Corps, retired Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps. General Davis is laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery on May 6, 2021. He passed away on July 31, 2019.

Transcript

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Ready and breath. Mhm. Yeah. Mhm scared like, Okay. Okay. Okay. Ready to ready? Yeah. Okay, details are turd, huh? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Right hand salute. Mhm. Mhm. Yeah. Mhm. Mhm. Mhm. Mhm. Okay. Mhm. Mhm. Mhm. Ready to? Yeah. Yeah. Right. Mhm. Yeah. Good afternoon family. It’s been a long time coming. It’s been a long time coming. Welcome to all guests gathered here today. It’s been a long time coming for this committal and you picked the right day. You picked the right day and what a beautiful occasion it is knowing well that some emotions might be stirred up again. Uh, just uh, this little while that has passed. Welcome to everyone. We gather here this afternoon at Arlington National Cemetery, which many consider to be one of America’s most sacred places. Arlington Cemetery as a lasting memorial to those who have faithfully served our nation And for over 150 years has honored her fallen Warriors and Patriots. It is the final resting place for over 400,000 individuals, a place that can only be earned, not bought. As you look upon the rows of headstones. Each tomb is a brick in the foundation of the freedom upon which we stand. These hallowed grounds are set aside to receive those who honorably serve their country as well as for those who have supported the ones who have served and today the mortal remains of general john Kerry, J. K. Davis and jane Davis here rightfully take their place. I invite you to join me in prayer. Oh God! Who by the glorious resurrection of your son, Jesus christ destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light granted your servants JK and jane being raised with him, may know the strength of his presence and rejoice in his eternal glory. Who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns one God forever and ever. Oh man Are reading from Psalm 23, You’re familiar with this. I invite you to join in along with me silently as I read it. The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me beside still waters. He revives my soul and guides me along right pathways. For his name’s sake, though I walk through the valley of the Shadow of death, I shall fear no evil. For you are with me, your rod and your staff. They comfort me. You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me. You have anointed my head with oil and my cup is running over. Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever again, As I mentioned, because nearly two years have passed since JK died and even longer since jane died, you, their family loved ones, closest friends have had time to walk the path of grief and loss tell stories, some of which may even be true and share laughter and tears. It is perfectly right and proper and good to perhaps shed a tear or two again, to let yourselves feel the physical presence, physical absence of JK and jane, and reflect deeply and gratefully on the gift of their lives. Now I understand J. K. Enjoyed a good game of golf and despite being legally blind, he played well into retirement with the help of his many friends, and I couldn’t help but wonder who dare tell the general when the shot was out of bounds. That would be a really good friend. I also have a sense that jane from what I’ve read, who among many interests and accomplishments that many too many too number right now to list all served as a docent at the Smithsonian and I imagine he was not at all reluctant to speak the truth in love to J. K. That they helped each other through life with honesty and clear vision and that vision and insight, wisdom and understanding were invaluable gifts they gave to each other. Do I have this right? Do I see a few head nods off base here. Okay, I’m preaching to the choir and I don’t know if JK and jane were patient persons but all marines know that the best laid plans often require an adaptable spirit were often referred to as semper Gumby and an understanding soul. You, Their closest family and friends have demonstrated that spirit and understanding time and again and their love of each other. Their family, their friends and their country live on in you and live on in the marines and service personnel whose lives they touched and are represented by those gathered around you with support and deep gratitude, vision and insight, wisdom and understanding of some of the strongest themes of the christian faith and of all those dedicated to military service. General J. K. Davis was a proud marine who led with all those qualities. And aviators are particularly keen on eyesight knowing their ability to a V. A. V eight navigate and communicate effectively is largely dependent on clear vision. And I heard a story, a rumor that his ashes, we’re in the cockpit of a plane on one of his journeys. True story. And then coming here. What a great story. So he was. He was up in the cockpit of the plane. That’s wonderful. And from the time he enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in 1945 through Commissioning, has a second marine second lieutenant in 1950. To his culminating tour is the 20th consistent commandant of the Marine Corps in 1983. It didn’t seem to be the titles he held. It mattered so much to him. But the marines he led and they were the ones that he kept his eye on with greatest focus, greatest care along with his friendly friends and loved ones. During his most highly decorated career, he kept his eye on what mattered most. Mhm. Our scripture reading reminds us that we trust and loving God and shepherd, who brings us safely through the valley of the shadow of death and who spread the table before us in the presence of our enemies, our greatest enemy being death itself For countless centuries, people of faith have found great comfort in these words, strength in adversity and hope. In the midst of even the direst situations For, Christians Psalm 23 gives us a clear vision of the hope that is in us, in Christ, Jesus who has died and has risen and has won for us everlasting life. And this committal lifts that up. Psalm 23 reminds us that when our own vision along the path sometimes grows blurry, perhaps our footing feels a little shaky and insecure as we keep our eyes on the good shepherd. We will be guided along right pathway pathways and we will be brought safely into green pastures. Or part of the analogy back onto the fairway. Our Lord jesus, is that great and good friend who is true and who are often gently but sometimes more forcefully, sometimes figuratively figuratively with Rod and staff tells us when we’re out of bounds and brings us back into the fold. We can all rest in the knowledge that both JK and jane have been received in the habitations, prepared for them by a loving Lord and savior who has gone ahead of them through life, death and resurrection and has welcomed them as friends and not as strangers. We now move to the committal of the mortal remains of J. K. And jane to this sacred ground. Immediately following the committal, there will be A three Volley rifle salute and alone. Marine bugler playing taps. The origin of the 24 note bugle call dates back to the civil war Until 191891. It was called extinguished lights. The simple melodic notes are used to signal that the day is done. Darkness has arrived and it is time to go to sleep when we experienced the death of loved ones, it often seems like light has been extinguished. But what we know about taps being played at the end of the evening is that it doesn’t stay dark forever. After the darkness settles, the dawn breaks, the sun rises. There is new light, there is readily. So as you hear those 24 familiar notes, may God grant that light and clear vision. Be upon this gathered community of friends, family, fellow marines and service members may all have truly grateful hearts for the lives of JK and jane and their faithful service to the country they loved. And may we all experience a new God’s loving presence of God. The loving presence of God, the good shepherd, ah man terrible. Yeah. Please stand. And I will be uh following the committal, sprinkling some sand onto both both of the containers and then we’ll move into the actual rendering of honors. Further on those who were able to stand. If it’s more I said please do so. Everyone the father gives to me will come to me, I will never turn away anyone who believes in me. He who raised jesus christ from the dead will also give new life to our mortal bodies through his indwelling spirit. My heart therefore is glad and my spirit rejoices my body also shall rest in hope you will show me the path of life in your presence. There is fullness of joy and in your right hand are pleasures forever more. Mhm. Yeah in sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through our Lord, jesus christ we come into already God her brother James and our sister jane and we commit to the ground earth to earth ashes to ashes dust to dust okay the Lord blessed them and keep them the Lord make his face to shine upon them and be gracious to them the Lord lift up his countenance upon them and give them peace. Oh man bar you’re right fire yeah, details oh tail and salute. Right great. Yeah okay. Yeah. Hi Yeah heart. Mhm Yeah. Mhm Yeah yeah okay. Mhm See this right Yeah. Mhm. Mhm. In new york yeah, yeah, yeah I don’t want to mhm Yeah. Okay mm hmm. Mhm Yeah. Yeah, yeah yeah. Mhm. Mhm. Mhm. Mhm. Mhm. Mhm. Yeah. Yeah. Right. Yeah. Yeah. And conclude for those who are familiar with it with the Lord’s prayer and a final blessing and let us now pray in the words our Lord jesus christ taught us to pray our father who art in heaven hallowed, be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Oh man. Mhm. Yeah. And now may the peace of God which passes all understanding. Keep your hearts and minds and the knowledge and love of God and of his son jesus christ Our Lord and the blessing of God Almighty the father the son and the holy spirit be upon you and remain with you always on that. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Carrie of his win. Really? I’m sorry it was a part of us and wish I could have been, mm All right, okay. Mhm, mm. Ladies and Gentlemen, this is section 35. The green cover resting place. Whenever you come to visit where you visit, it doesn’t service for general john and mrs James Davis will be a reception held at Chef Garden City 4-6 for those of you would like on behalf of the family of thanks and.