Kenneth Varnes and doing the right thing
Cross posted from The American Legion.
The world generally breaks down into two types of people to me, those who do the right thing without expecting anything from it, and those who don’t. Meet Kenneth Varnes, one of the first group:
Kenneth Varnes was driving along a road in Killeen, Texas, on Friday when he noticed a funeral procession on the other side of the road passing by.
With a long line of patrol cars and vehicles with American flags hanging from their side windows, Varnes, a Fort Hood soldier, knew it must be for a fallen veteran. It was pouring rain and the sky roared with thunder, but Varnes felt compelled to do something.
So he pulled over, got out of his truck and saluted the veteran — until the very last patrol car passed.
Local resident Zachary Rummings happened to spot Varnes, standing at attention in the rain, from across the street. He shared a picture of the moment with a local Facebook group, asking members of the community if they recognized him.
They did, and he seemed bemused that anyone even bothered to think that he would act differently.
“This is probably going to make someone’s day, seeing me stand here, and I know how it is to go through a tough time like that, and I really just did it just to make someone’s day, that was it,” Varnes told CBS Waco affiliate KWTX.
The rain was pouring when Varnes first stepped out of his pickup, but as the cars passed it reduced to a light drizzle.
“As soon as I got back in the truck, it poured again, which was really cool,” he said.
While many praised the man for his inspiring and patriotic act, Varnes said it was just his natural response. He still doesn’t know who the veteran was, nor does he know his story, but that doesn’t matter.
“I don’t care if they were 80 years old, they were in World War II, they were in Vietnam, they were in Iraq, I don’t care if they were 20,” Varnes told KWTX.
Here’s the video a local station did:
Category: Politics
Thank you for your example, sir.
Good onya mate!!
Sir, I honor and salute you! I do the same thing anytime I see a veteran funeral. That is the least thing you owe any veteran. I always think of my father when I do! BZ
Well done, young man. Please have many children. The Republic needs them.
So here comes Jennifer Earl and Kathleen Serie, both apparently CBS reporters, with a story about how Ft. Hood soldier Kenneth Varnes stopped his truck in the pouring rain to pay his respects to a veteran’s last rites. But nowhere does either reporter offer the name of the veteran being buried. Apparently it was too much trouble to grant the departed the courtesy of an identification by picking up the phone and making a couple of calls.
Define irony.
Parents of America, do you see this young man? This is what you get when you do your job right! Outstanding tribute Kenneth, to both the fallen veteran and to your parents.
And somewhere, an obscure Drill Sergeant smiles and then goes about his work. regards, Alemaster
Nicely done by a very thoughtful young man.
Lovely example of parenting done right. B Mr. Varnes.
Out fuckingstanding!