Dear Ms. Lunelle,
On Friday afternoon, July 19, 2024, I would travel to Rutherfordton, North Carolina to join the family and friends at a Wake for the Honorable Julian Donald Ruff who passed away Wednesday afternoon at the George Charles Veterans Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina.
Budd, a native of Rutherford County was a Naval Veteran who served two tours in Vietnam aboard the USS Park County, USS Duluth, and USSA Guadal Canal. And importantly he was a Life Member of the Rutherford Rifle Camp 2044 Sons of Confederate Veterans, of which I am an Honorary Life Member.
Alongside the Camp Commander, the Honorable Jim Kennedy, I would serve as an Honor Guard on Saturday afternoon. However, on that Saturday morning, don in the uniform of the Southern Soldier I would post the Southern Cross at the highway entrance of Crowes Funeral Home where a celebration of Budd's Life would take place at 2:00 PM.
As appointed Color Guards, Commander Kennedy (also don in the uniform of the Southern soldier) and I would escort the family and Budd into the Chapel. Afterward, upon arriving at the burial site (Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Polk County), Commander Kennedy and I would escort the pallbearers to the grave while passing along the way a contingent of the Rutherford County Veterans Home Guard who were to provide a gun salute, taps, a verbal message and retiring presentation of the U.S. Flag to the family.
I would post the Southern Cross on one side of the family tent, and Commander Kennedy on the other side as family members began entering. I noticed that two Naval Officers had already seated themselves in the tent when one very loud and brash snapped at Commander Kennedy..."What is that damn flag doing here"? I thought to myself; "Buddy you just entered the twilight zone; wrong person, wrong question!" And Commander Kennedy, true to form would retort; not that it's your damn business, but Budd was not just only a Navy Veteran, but he was also a proud Son of a Confederate Veteran. And if you don't like this flag being here, get up and do something about it, or more favorably I can escort your dumb a_ _out, and on the way, you can take that flag on his casket with you.”
It was going downhill fast and the only thing I could think to do was to fast step to the other side and shout out “Sirs” to the Naval men and Commander Kennedy as well while popping a salute that they by military decorum were obligated to return and did with a sense of relief coming over all concerned as Commander Kennedy recognizing what I had just done back away. No more was said.
I would join the Naval Officer at the casket as he presented a presentation as the flag that draped the coffin was folded and presented to the family. The Honorable Funeral Director would announce that this would conclude the ceremony. I would ask for and was given permission to address the family.
I knew that Budd would have been very proud of Commander Kennedy as I, too, had been on this day as Budd made his way Home to the Almighty God. Commander Kennedy and I posed for many pictures alongside the Naval contingent and his family and friends God bless you!
Your brother,
HK
Chairman Board of Advisors Emeritus Southern Legal Resource Center
Member Save Southern Heritage Florida
Honorary Life Member Jackson Rangers Camp 1917 Sons of Confederate Veterans
Honorary Life Member Rutherford Rifle Camp 2044 Sons of Confederate Veterans
Honorary Associate Member Abner Baker Chapter 1404 United Daughters of the Confederacy
Honorary Life Member Longstreet Zollicoffer Camp 87 Sons of Confederate Veterans
Honorary Life Member North Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia Orders of the Confederate Rose
President Southern Heritage 411
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