Share
Commentary

Funeral Procession Stunned After Truck Driver Pulls Over, Takes Off Hat, And Honors Marine

Share

A veteran who drives a white pickup truck is going viral after a Facebook post showed him saluting a fellow veteran’s funeral procession.

In a Facebook post last week, made by user Rona Wallace wrote that “during my Daddy’s funeral procession, led by the United States Marine Corps, my family noticed the man in this photo pulled over on the side of the road.

“His hat was in is hand and his hand was over his heart, honoring my father and our family as we passed by.

“His respectful act touched my family and the entire procession so deeply. We passed many other cars along the way that simply went about their day.”

Trending:
KJP Panics, Hangs Up in Middle of Interview When Reporter Shows He Isn't a Democratic Party Propagandist

Wallace’s father was Texas businessman and Marine veteran Floyd C. “Skeeter” Lothringer. He earned a Purple Heart during his service in Vietnam, according to his obituary.

By good fortune, Wallace was able to locate the man who was at the side of the road that day.

“Since his license plate showed in the photo, my daughter did some digging and we found him,” Wallace wrote.

“His name is Ernest Boerlin and he is also a veteran — US Navy.

“When I messaged him privately to thank him for honoring my father, he said: ‘It was an honor to show my respect for a fellow serviceman and their family. Please accept my prayers and condolences to you and your family for your loss. Fair winds and following seas. God bless.’”

“Thank you, Ernest,” Wallace added.

“Your act of kindness and respect touched our family and friends very deeply and we are grateful. May God bless you and yours as well.

“Let’s thank Ernest for his service and show him some love, y’all!”

The post had over 141,000 shares as of Sunday night as well as more than 360,000 likes.

In a Facebook post of his own, Boerlin said what he wanted out of the viral post was a respectful awareness of what service members sacrifice for their country. These are people who understand that the best way to teach patriotism, like any virtue, is to live it in daily life.

Related:
Only Days After Release of Apple Vision Pro, We're Starting to See an Immediate Effect on Society

“I only hope that my actions demonstrate what I was taught by my father; that patriotism, honor, and respect can’t simply be posted on Facebook alone but must be lived every day,” Boerlin wrote in a Saturday post.

Have you ever done anything like what this veteran did?

“What may seem as a small, gesture of gratitude and respect for you may have a big impact on others, as I have learned through the past days. I pray that my actions have encouraged others to be respectful and to continue to stand up for this great country and the fallen servicemen and women who have fought for us.”

In other words, he didn’t seem to think he deserved any thanks for what he did.

However, if you do want to get him a present — his 40th birthday is coming up this week, after all — “I would ask that you please show other servicemen and women the same love and gratitude that you have shown me by donating to the Wounded Warrior Project.”

Even in viral fame, it seems, Ernest Boerlin is as unselfish as he was on the side of that road.

Truth and Accuracy

Submit a Correction →



We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.

Tags:
, ,
Share
C. Douglas Golden is a writer who splits his time between the United States and Southeast Asia. Specializing in political commentary and world affairs, he's written for Conservative Tribune and The Western Journal since 2014.
C. Douglas Golden is a writer who splits his time between the United States and Southeast Asia. Specializing in political commentary and world affairs, he's written for Conservative Tribune and The Western Journal since 2014. Aside from politics, he enjoys spending time with his wife, literature (especially British comic novels and modern Japanese lit), indie rock, coffee, Formula One and football (of both American and world varieties).
Birthplace
Morristown, New Jersey
Education
Catholic University of America
Languages Spoken
English, Spanish
Topics of Expertise
American Politics, World Politics, Culture




Conversation