Topic: ECU Post (Please Read)

[Mastodon]

http://www.hoistthecolours.net/showthread.php?3191-A-Trip-I-Will-Never-Forget-(long)

On the way back from Huntington, and like most Pirates we have been playing the what if game. What if DD doesn't throw the picks in this game? What if we are not worst in the country in TO's on the year. Very frustrated. That said it was a great trip with my sons and father-in-law. Marshall has great fans and we are forever linked.
 
That being said, I had a poignant reminder that football is only a game at the end of the day. I decide that my boys really need to see the memorials to the 75, so we go to the fountain and then the cementary. When we pull up to the cementary there is actually a burial going on right in front of the memorial. We park a ways away and try to be respectful while deciding to stay or go. The service concludes and the minister walks up to us. I am thinking he is coming to run us off. Instead he tells us that the lady being laid to rest is the wife of the AD who died in the crash. As he is dismissing he sees our flags and thinks it is perfect that someone from ECU is there. He asks us to stay because it would mean alot to the family. Huh?
 
We stay and walk up to the memorial. The grandson begins to talk to my father -in-law while a lady walks up to me. She is the daughter who just laid her mom to rest. She THANKS me for coming and talks to me and my sons about the tragedy. She thanked ECU for our tribute at the stadium and wishes us luck. She asks my kids if they play and reminds them to play till the whistle blows. What a classy lady.
 
I pray God's peace be with her and her family. I may not like CUSA, but I am proud to be conference mates with Marshall. They are...Marshall.

[extragreen]

wow

[Buffalo Bop]

That brought a tear or two to my eyes. Thanks for sharing.

[Huffnagel]

Wow, just wow!

[_sturt_]

Forever linked, indeed.

[mugrad97]

Great post and read

[biggreenarms]

That's an awesome story. Thanks for sharing.

[jstherd]

+1 on the WOW, just WOW.

[marshall fanatic]

That got me tearing up.

[whf]

Ditto, WOW. teary weekend hey.

[thelonderee]

Thanks for sharing. I almost posted about the memorial service yesterday, but opted not to because I wasn't sure if the family would want it on a message board. Probably should have listened to my gut.

Charles Kautz was the athletic director in 1970 who died in the crash. Yesterday, his wife Lucy was laid to rest. The memorial service that morning was moving. It was a great tribute to Charlie and Lucy, to the family, and to their Savior.

I attended because two of their three daughters are members of our church. Up until about a year ago, I didn't know that these sweet ladies had lost their father in the crash. This is a very close-knit family, and a very loving group of people. I think the post you shared communicates that. It's really neat that these ECU fans were led to stop at the memorial when they did.

I hope that whatever happens with the conference realignments, Marshall and ECU stay in the same league. It's been great playing them each year, and the link between the programs transcends anything else in sports.

[usedcars1]

What a wonderful story.

[MarshallMatrix]

*glassy eyes*

[exanimate]

Very moving. I grew up with some of their grandchildre and they are a great family.

[shilolg]

Great story, thanks for sharing

[Big Ol' Hillbilly]

I am friends with her grandson. He is a great Herd fan and person. He lost his Grandmother and his wife gave birth to a baby girl in the same week. It's amazing how things work out sometimes.

[mxman870]

Very touching story,,,, I am glad you posted for us to read and reflect on. Classy post by BigDaddyPir8 on their board.

[clovenhoof]

Yep, got choked up. It's true, I really respect ECU.

[exanimate]

I am friends with her grandson. He is a great Herd fan and person. He lost his Grandmother and his wife gave birth to a baby girl in the same week. It's amazing how things work out sometimes.

Which grandson? I grew up with Joe and know Jared as well. Know Molly too. All three are great people.

[TomorrowHERD]

This is what makes us special...

[goherdcj05]

AWESOME read!!!   I have fam/friends that I try to explain why MU/ECU is the best rivalry bar none....this is a testimony to that.  These two teams share a connection that cannot be matched, one that has generated a shared respect among both programs for good reason. Furthermore, I have yet to meet a more classy group of people.

Again....AWESOME read!

Go HERD!

[Huffnagel]

This needs to stick around a little longer, great read!

[jt]

thanks for sharing. First gave me tears and then chills. I will always have an affinity for ECU and their fans. I hope we always share a great relationship between the two schools and the fans. I always want a win in every game but OTOH, I don't "like" to give a loss to ECU.

[chemstock]

This made me remember where I was when this happpened. Chem was just getting to HS and was a huge Pirate fan. I listened to the game on the AM radio station on my old chevy. It hit me hard....
Great post to read......my eyes are sweating......

[Sally]

thanks for posting this.