The silence inside the chapel was almost unbearable. Only the faint rustling of black clothing and the muffled sounds of quiet sobs filled the air. The scent of white lilies mixed with the heavy weight of grief.

Everyone had gathered to say goodbye to a hero. At the center of the aisle, beneath the stained glass windows that cast a pale morning glow, rested a dark oak casket. A neatly folded flag lay atop it, a symbol of duty, of sacrifice.