We had to ship the body to Arlington on Friday, have the community memorial in Los Angeles on Saturday, and then get the whole family, including Mildred, ready to go to Washington for Monday’s ceremony at the White House and the reinternment on Tuesday. Redd and Karen came, and I invited Fred Scott, former husband of Mildred’s daughter, Iris. Mildred, Buddha, our teenagers Corey and Santalia, and I were accompanied by a protocol officer, Captain Nguyen, who had flown with us from Los Angeles. When we arrived at the White House there were Secret Service people everywhere. I gave the kids a stern look. “Be on your best behavior,” I hissed. “Don’t do anything. Don’t go anywhere.” They responded with looks of angelic innocence, which worried me even more. The ceremony was held in the East Room. It was packed with cabinet members, senators and members of Congress, military brass, and family members and friends. The dignitaries included Secretary of Defense William Perry, Secretary Jesse Brown of the Veterans Administration, General Colin Powell, and General John Shalikashvili of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
What do You think about Honoring Sergeant Carter (2007)?
