Under the baobab: Saying goodbye to two soldiers
The caisson was pulled by six white horses, followed by a riderless mount carrying boots reversed in the stirrups with sword. Loved ones walked solemnly behind — the only surviving sister, 8 children, 25 grandchildren, several great-grandchildren. Then came the rest of us, several hundred walking, carrying flowers and memories of Colonel Francis B. Kane Jr. (retired) also known as Dad, Pop-Pop, Frank and Big Bear.
The crystal-clear blue sky and full sun reflect off 400,000 nearly identical tombstones of those who had lived their lives and many who gave their last measure of devotion in service to our country. In Arlington National Cemetery lie the physical remains of soldiers from every major war our country has fought from the War of Independence in 1776 to Afghanistan in 2021. There are two presidents buried in these hallowed grounds — William Taft, who also served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and John Kennedy, in repose beside his wife, Jackie, and two of his brothers, Bobbie and Ted.
After graduating from the United States Military Academy in 1945, Col. Kane served in three wars: World War II, Korea and Vietnam. He taught at the U.S. Army War College. His analysis on counter-insurgency warfare found its way to President Kennedy’s desk. It formed the theoretical basis for the establishment of the Green Berets and Delta Force. He raised eight children, all of whom graduated from college. Most attained graduate degrees MD, JD, MSW, MBA or Ph.D. Three attended West Point. All in all, six of his children and their spouses honorably served in the military. The husband of one grandchild proudly wore his Navy uniform to Big Bear’s internment.
The officer of the day presented the ceremoniously folded flag to Frank’s eldest son, also Frank, also an army vet. We all stood proudly, some praying, some remembering. There were tears as a three-gun salute was fired. We stood in silence as the band played. When the moment came, we followed Frank III to the columbarium and watched as he placed his father’s ashes in the crypt next to his beloved wife of 70 years. Pop-Pop died early in the COVID pandemic. Twenty months of mourning passed before his funeral with full military honors at Arlington was complete.
Next month in California there will be another military funeral. David Munsey also passed away during the pandemic. We were family. We grew up together in Chicago. Ironically, he served in same in the same unit as Col. Kane in ‘60s Germany, 2nd Battalion, 51st Infantry, 4th Armored Division. David didn’t go to West Point. He enlisted. He got his incentive and pre-army basic training as the only boy in a family with eight girls.
My favorite David story unfolded at the Regal Theatre on the Southside of Chicago during a live concert featuring James Brown. As Soul Brother No. 1 cranked out “Do The Mash Potatoes,” a bunch of us started dancing in the aisles next to the stage. David was really doing it. He caught James Brown’s eye, who stopped to watch David’s fabulous moves. Brown pointed David out to the audience and they began to vigorously applaud. After the birth of his two sons and his military service, David said it was the proudest moment of his life. Jon, one of those sons, will accept the folded flag.
Congratulations to a former student at Temple University, James Ijames. He was awarded this year’s Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his play, “Fat Ham,” a comic send-up of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.” I was blessed to direct James in a few projects in Philly. Also congrats to Ted Brown, Barry Fenchak, Christa Hasenkopf, Richard Sokolov, Naren Gursahaney, Valerie Detwiler, Abraham Harpster, Tracy Riegel who were elected to Penn State’s board of trustees.
This story was originally published May 16, 2022 at 5:00 AM.