A Final Goodbye

Katherine Cathey

This photo and description was contributed by David Westfall of Rhode Island.

David is veteran and a regular here at Memoirs. As always, I thank you, my friend ...

The night before the burial of her husband's body, Katherine Cathey refused to leave the casket, asking instead to sleep next to his body for one last time.

The Marines made a bed for her, tucking in the sheets below the flag. Before she fell asleep, she opened her laptop computer and played songs that reminded her of 'Cat', and one of the Marines asked if she wanted them to continue standing watch as she slept.

"I think it would be kind of nice if you kept doing it," she said. "I think that's what he would have wanted."



“I am only one, but I am one. I can't do everything, but I can do something. The something I ought to do, I can do. And by the grace of God, I will.” ~Everett Hale