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Funeral Procession - am I too old school?

You're absolutely right!
When my mom went to be with the LORD, the procession I was in drove past her house, and one of the neighbors who was mowing his lawn, stopped the mower, turned it off, took his hat off, and put his hand over his heart to honor my mother. It was such a touching thing that it left an impression on me to this day!

My wife's grandfather passed last year and he was buried in a cemetery in a small farming community where we are both from. Everyone stopped on the road and people working in their yards and in the fields all stopped and paid their respects. I noticed and it made me tear up. I do the same if a procession goes past my house....stop what I'm doing remove my hat and face the road. It's the least I can do for someone's final trip on this earth on their way to see God.
 
I think it depends on several things.
It it a military or LEO funeral? That would rate special treatment, of course.
Is it a small town? Perhaps that would be different also.
Is there a real reason for traffic to stop in both directions?
In a large heavily, congested city (where I travel) the funeral processions are completely out of hand.
They have turned into show processions.
And EVERYONE's family has to be in line for the "home going".
I can't help but wonder if the "grieving " people think that their grief is more important than the safety and convenience of other people on the road.
You CAN meet at the cemetery without an escort.
I've done it.
A motorcycle office roars into an intersection and oncoming traffic has to slam on the brakes while the cars pass.
People get rear ended in the process. (Ask me how I know).
It's a hot summer day and traffic has stopped in both directions.
What's the hold up you ask?
You sit and wait with the windows down.
Finally a white carriage comes with Mister Ed and company clomping along to bury the old lady's remains..
 
I think the lack of people doing this comes down to to things. Either:
(A) Rude people who could care less and won't do it
(B) People who were never taught the rules or the right thing to do.

It's harder to address the rude people, but even a thread like this can help with those who weren't taught the rules.

Good on you for stopping and paying respects! The more people that do that the more we can help teach (or force) others to do it as well!
 
It's hardly the same, but likewise, I never see anyone flash their lights to warn of a speed trap any more. I used to see it all the time, but not for a loooong time. When I do it, they probably think I have a short in my headlights.
 
Depends on where you are...If you're in a small little town then fine...There's a point when blocking traffic for something like that is unacceptable...If you stop both lanes of a lot of the roads around here for just a few minutes you've created HOURS of congestion...There'd be people sitting in traffic who'll never see that hearse...Maybe some of them are trying to get to the hospital...Maybe trying to go get their child from daycare before they get charged a late fee...Doctors appointments...Just life...


If it can be done without being detrimental to the lives of other people then fine...Otherwise save it for the cemetery...
 
No one has any common courtesy just like common sense too
I guess common anything is old school!
I stop and turn flashers on I get passed all the time too so even honk at me !
Same with police, fire,medical hell just about anyone on side of road I move or slow down for .
Just the other day I saw a pregnant girl with two kids on side of road with a flat I was way over already passed noticed not one person stopped to help her . So I got threw the light made my was to center turned around and changed her tire !
The poor girl didn't have minutes on her phone to call for help she said they were there for 20 mins and no one would stop !
It took me a hole 15 mins of my time !

People don't care about anyone else but them selves.
Makes you wonder what this place will be like in another 30 years


I used to stop and help people all the time...But I'm somewhat scruffy lookin a lot of the time, and after having so many people wave their phones at me through rolled up windows while yelling they "already called someone", I just gave up...
That being said...If I see someone in obvious need of help I'll stop...I'm not gonna stop for someone just sitting in their vehicle though...
But if they get out and wave...I will absolutely pull over........I feel like most people would...
Somehow I don't feel like the young lady in your story was actively trying to flag someone down if she'd been there so long...
 
I bet your parents said the same about your generation and their parent before them......does anything really ever change....I have my doubts.
Buzzer: {ehhh ! } wrong. Just ask any youth today if he would have the balls to jump off a boat at the foot of Normandy Beach. Or, ask "her" if she would, without primped up makeup and nails, of course.
 
I think your act of pulling over, stopping and giving the funeral procession the right of way is very respectful (aka "a moment of silence"). Hopefully the grieving family saw your kind gesture and your acknowledgement of your fellow man.

We all need to learn to respect each other again.

Kudos to you sir!
 
hats off to you sir. In 89 my grandmother passed, my family was in the hearse on the way to the cemetery, when an asshole came flying up and tried to pass. the driver immediately swerved over and ran him off the road, put a big smile on my face. ******** like that have been around for quite some time. Today i watch the weather report and shut off the t.v. I hate what this countries citizens have become. Seems to make my own death someday easier to accept.
 
I hear you, those same inconsiderate people don't pull off to the side for Police, Ambulance., and Fire trucks either.
I also hit my 4-ways. That lets emergency vehicle know that I have seen them. and may? wake up those behind me?
 
I think it depends on several things.
It it a military or LEO funeral? That would rate special treatment, of course.
Is it a small town? Perhaps that would be different also.
Is there a real reason for traffic to stop in both directions?
In a large heavily, congested city (where I travel) the funeral processions are completely out of hand.
They have turned into show processions.
And EVERYONE's family has to be in line for the "home going".
I can't help but wonder if the "grieving " people think that their grief is more important than the safety and convenience of other people on the road.
You CAN meet at the cemetery without an escort.
I've done it.
A motorcycle office roars into an intersection and oncoming traffic has to slam on the brakes while the cars pass.
People get rear ended in the process. (Ask me how I know).
It's a hot summer day and traffic has stopped in both directions.
What's the hold up you ask?
You sit and wait with the windows down.
Finally a white carriage comes with Mister Ed and company clomping along to bury the old lady's remains..
No one likes the red X ( all it means is that someone disagrees) And I do disagree, but do not like the symbol either. People NEED to look out those windows and pay attention. All those reason mention can happen when they DO NOT.
 
It's hardly the same, but likewise, I never see anyone flash their lights to warn of a speed trap any more. I used to see it all the time, but not for a loooong time. When I do it, they probably think I have a short in my headlights.
That's something else that still happens more often than not around here; we do it for speed traps
plus anything else that others may need to have a heads up for - an accident, an obstruction in the roadway,
etc.
I had someone to do it to me Friday on a local two-lane; glad they flashed me, as someone's small dog had gotten
loose in the road. A less than attentive driver could have easily run the poor thing over.
 
You did the right thing and I do the same!! To someone it's the saddest day in their life, to others, screw you I got to get to the store. Some people don't get it till it's their turn!
 
As for helping stranded motorists, many people won't stop because many times its bait to get people to stop so other occupants in the stranded car can rob the Good Samaritan.
 
I will nearly always stop for a broken down car....especially a lone lady...even if its just to make sure shes got a phone or called the breakdown service. Back in the day you could often help get a car going....but with a modern car, unless its a puncture or similar it usually requires a computer!! Although I always carry a bluetooth OBD 2 plug in my cars and and Torque Pro on my phome....so might be lucky!!
 
I'm 62 and have lived or worked in five states. I have never been aware of any custom of pulling over for a funeral procession coming the other way.
 
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