Passing through the “small” Alabama
town of Eufaula , I
was stopped for a few minutes by a multitude of flashing blue lights.
It was the police escort for a funeral procession.
For those not familiar with the
procedure in these areas, the police escorts allow the funeral
procession to remain together and cross intersections without regard
to traffic or traffic lights.
It's also a tradition, that all traffic
stop both ways for the procession whether the deceased were known to you or
not. Four lanes on a busy state highway going through a small
Southern town came to a complete stop for a few minutes out of
respect for not only the deceased but their family.
The family in their grieving may or may
not have noticed that the world literally did stop for them for a few
moments. However it did remind me of the necessity of simple
courtesies in life.
Some gestures may be tradition, but
still provide respect to a stranger as a simple courtesy.
Hold the door open for someone the next
time you go shopping.
