The funeral was nice, for a funeral anyway. The gym was PACKED. The family requested that everyone wear red and black, our school colors. Saratoga brought two buses- one with the jr. high and high school football players, and the other with other students and staff that wanted to come. I think the final count of people from Saratoga was 60. Our science teacher (also the asst. boys basketball coach) spoke at the funeral, and the first thing out of his mouth was "I want to say how appreciative I am of how many Saratoga kids are here- and I know for a fact that Mitch would have been tickled that he got you to wear red and black." And that's so true- I think Mitch was jumping up and down in victory up There. :)
Heath, our head football coach spoke, too. That's what got me crying hard. He had Mitch's jersey with him, that the team signed. He spoke about how at this Friday's game, the first defensive play will only have 10 people on the field. And how he told the other team's coach that he wants them to run the play like usual- and if they get through the hole where Mitch would have been and their player trips, know that it was Mitch on the field helping out. And then he laid the jersey on the casket and said he was getting Mitch suited up for his last game. Here I go, crying again.
Then our FCCLA and home ec teacher spoke, as Mitch loved her. And that was the end of the funeral. Then we all went to the Encampment Cemetary for the burial. A few dozen red, black, purple and gold balloons were released. I thought it was a nice touch to include both schools' colors.
Then everyone went back to the school, where there was a carry-in meal. TONS of fantastic food and it was good to be able to relax a little.
But like I said- I'm not cut out for this. I hope this can be a lesson to everyone, so we can maybe save a life in honor of Mitch. I know that I will never again text on my phone while driving, and I hope everyone else quits too. If we can take this death and save a life, we'll be doing OK.
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