I know this is a fishing forum so I hope no one minds me making this statment. I attended my first cousins funeral in Cleburne yesterday, and something happened I need to say. Let me start by saying I am not looking for any sympathy from anyone, my cousin was very ill and she is in a better place, this I am certain of.
What I wanted to say, is from the funeral home to the graveside service, we had a several mile long drive. The thing that struck me as something you don't see much of anymore, at least not in Fort Worth, is almost everyone we encounterd on both sides of the road pulled over as a show of courtesy and respect. I even looked over at some of the drivers and noticed men had removed their caps as we drove by.
I did not realize that even in small cities that courtesy to strangers still occured. I live close to Greenwood Cemetary in Fort Worth, and it does not happen like that here. I know Fort Worth is a busy place, but it only takes a few minutes and I want to say how much that meant to the family.
I know there are lots of forum members living in small towns and cities, your lucky, you still see on a regular basis acts of coutrsey like that,those actions of respect carry such a large impact on people.

You are so right on courtesy at small towns. I lived in Lubbock, when I attended funerals there were cars passing the funeral procession without any respect. I have lived in Post for 3 yrs now and have experienced everyone in town just have more respect for the people involved in the funeral procession. I enjoy living in small town where most people are friendly and respectful.

When we buried my grandmother out in East Texas (Sand Hill near Gilmer), we had about a 30 mile+ drive down several different roads. Not only did every single vehicle pull over and every single gentleman pull off his hat, but every single person working near the road removed their caps and stood with their head bowed.

My daughter is in the Air Force, so you winged boys don't get your feathers ruffled. When we buried my father, the only cars that passed us or did not stop were Airmen. I could tell because of their camos. The road was near Dyess Air Force Base. Guess they were raised in other towns. We don't do that in West Texas!

We buried both of my grandparents in Graham. I was home on leave from the Marine Corps at the time. Every vehicle in town did the same thing as you guys mentioned. It was very moving, just to see that much respect paid. Being gone from home, it only made me more homesick to come back. I really never considered living anywhere else after I got out of the USMC, but things like that while home on leave always solidified my choice to move back to Texas.

Kelly

Hag, you are right about the Airman. Most are from Yankee land and I was born-ed in Yankee land and made it to Texas as fast as I could, but they don't stop for funerals up there so they are just doing what they have always did. Doesn't make it right, but that is just the way it is. By the way I had Wings for 28 years, so don't anyone else get there wings ruffled from what I have said. Got to love small town Texas.

I went to Arp this year for my cousin's daughter and they practically shut the town down. The school was shut down, and everyone showed up. Then afterwards, we (family) all met at the church and we had food, I mean FOOD. There were 4 fold out tables full of food that was prepared and brought up by the community and the church.
It was pretty amazing. Makes you appreciate living out in the small town. Can't imagine the Rockwall School District shutting down so the kids can attend a funeral.

Question is; When did it become acceptable to NOT have this kind of respect? I was raised with much respect and these type things were just instilled inside a person and some of this countries finest handed down traditions and Respect.........Just my .02
It does make you feel good to know some places still honor them 100%

robles,
For a couple of years Lubbock quit escorting funerals because of an accident that killed a motorcycle policeman. During that time you did not see anyone stopping for a funeral. I have seen it quite a few times since thay starting escorting funerals again. I always try and stop if traffic will allow it. It is the least a person can do to show respect for the loved ones and friends who have passed.

Man! I thought everyone stopped. Aint ever been anywhere where they didn't. Guess I should get out more but if it's like that in other places I reckon I'll keep my butt here. When a funeral passes around here, even city crews and state crews show respect. I did see a car not stop on hwy 22 once but I figured they had an emergency. Oh well.
Glad you got to see some courtesy RMR.

Sorry to hear about your cousin, RMR. RangerGuy,
you're right, this courtesy is not practiced in the northeast, so many of the Yankee transplants and transients simply don't know about it. I didn't know what was going on the first time I saw this courtesy after being stationed in San Angelo, but it wasn't hard to figure out - it's a very respectful gesture. The other friendliness and courtesies I miss from my days in small city and town west TX is that short wave from an approaching driver you might pass on the secondary highway, or for a slower vehicle in front of you to simply move off onto the shoulder of the road so that you may pass. Don't see that here in the metro-mess very often... Have a good weekend,

Pulling over is a Southern Thing..... That's why in smaller cities they give respect...

Why not in bigger cities, simply they are all not native texans...

Well, this may come as a surprise but when my mom died a couple of years ago, every car that we saw on the trip from the funeral home to the cemetary pulled over and hats were removed. The surprise? Believe it or not, we were in Dallas, TX.

we buried a niece and a nephew of mine a few years back up near Phalba, TX. every vehicle from the church to the cemetary (about 20 miles) pulled over and had their headlights on. i was very moved by the respect shown by perfect strangers. no one seemed to be in a hurry that day. these are common acts of respect and courtesy only shown in areas where there is still a sense of community, i think. thank God there's still a smalltown America. you just have to drive a little further to find it. GOFISH

Todays society has placed us in too many individual cirles of life that have linear direction. We do not know who our neighbors are or have any interaction with them. It is good to see that as humans, made in Gods image, some still have the "community" spirit to show respect and make room for life. I am sorry for your loss, but your correct, she is in a far better place than we.

Same courtesy was shown when we buried all of my Grandparents (of course it was 4 different occasions) east of Temple. After we left the funeral home in Temple and got on Hwy 53 heading east for about 12 miles, everyone stopped on the side of the road and got out of their cars while the men removed their caps as well. I was in shock since I never see any respect like that extended in the city. It was a moving experience to say the least.

On the other hand. Just 3 years ago in August, we went to San Antonio to bury my wifes Dad. His was a military funeral. But, on the way to the gravesite, there were cars actually cutting right into the funeral procession so they could take their exits off the highway, as opposed to waiting till we passed then going behind us. I was about to lose it! We even had others cutting in line at red lights so they could "pretend" that they were part of the group and get the right of way since the police were stopping traffic. Once thru the intersection, they would speed past everyone...No respect by these bozos.. I can't imagine someone was actually raised that way.