Happy Valentine’s Day! Valentine’s Day is a celebration of love, and this past week we lost a friend who symbolized love to everyone who met him.
George J. Charlet Jr, known as “Uncle George” to all who met him, passed away this past Monday, February 9, at 2:00pm due to complications from surgery. He was 65 years old.
Lauri and I came to know Uncle George through Scouting. Uncle George organized and led Scout Troops to National and World Jamborees, which is where Lauri first met him. I met him through the National Jamboree and went on to become a Vigil brother of Uncle George in the Order of the Arrow.
Uncle George was a huge member of the Clinton and Zachary communities (two towns north of Baton Rouge, LA for those not familiar). He was a co-owner of the Charlet Funeral Home with offices in both Zachary and Clinton. He was also a Volunteer Fireman and was heavily involved with the Church.
Uncle George greeted friends with big bear hugs, and always told you he loved you. He would always raise your spirits, no matter what else was going on. He always opened his doors and his heart to anyone who needed it, and never with any expectation of recognition.
Lauri and I travelled back to Louisiana for the Wake and Funeral of our good friend this past Thursday and Friday. The Wake was held on Wednesday night in Zachary and on Thursday night in Clinton. The family expected a lot of people, but the numbers that actually showed up to pay their respects to the great man were unbelievable. Literally thousands showed up over the two days, with lines stretching from the casket out the door, though the parking lot, and into the street at each location. Wait times in line extended from 1-2 hours. Lauri and I only attended the Clinton Wake, and it looked like the whole town had turned out to see Uncle George. The Fire, Police, Sheriff, and EMS departments from three towns (Zachary, Clinton, and Ethel) were there as an honor guard, with two officers standing at mournful attention on either side of Uncle George. A true testament to the respect Uncle George garnered over his lifetime. The Boy Scouts had come out as well, many in full dress uniform, helping with the honor guard, and mourning the loss.
The Funeral was carried out on Friday Morning, with lots of rain. The skies over Clinton literally wept for Uncle George this day. Hundreds showed up, the church was filled to capacity and the remaining halls in the church complex were packed with the overflow. Closed Circuit TV was piped to the overflow. The honor guard was there too; with folks from Boy Scouts, Police, Fire, Sheriff, and EMS all rotating their guard before the funeral mass. The Funeral Mass itself began with the entrance of 11 priests! They provided a heartfelt, and tear filled, ceremony that truly told the story of Uncle George.
The Funeral Processional to the grave site was a site to see. The police not only guarded the lane of the street we drove down to get to the cemetery, they blocked off the entire highway. There is only one highway though Clinton proper, so a full shutdown of the highway was, in my opinion, a big deal, especially since it took about 15-20 minutes for the entire processional to pass. The processional included the usual police escort, but this escort included police from several different departments. The Fire Department also brought out their trucks for the processional, with black ribbon and flowers adorning the vehicles. Even EMS Ambulances were in the procession, with full lights. The Church and the Cemetary are on opposite sides of Clinton, and as we passed though Main Street, folks came out of their storefronts to wave at the processional, the entire town stopped what they were doing - it was an incredible sight.
But the most incredible thing was the Boy Scouts. They honored Uncle George by lining the street, both sides, at attention in the pouring rain, all saluting Uncle George as he passed by. The Boy Scouts stood with American Flags from the center of town all the way to the Cemetary entrance. Uncle George’s son told me later that the Scouts honor was the most touching part, for the family and for Uncle George.
The rain finally stopped for the burial itself (good timing). The honor guard from the Police, Fire, Sheriff, and EMS all stood at attention, lining the walkway from the hearse to the gravesite, and saluted the casket as the pall bearers brought Uncle George up the hill to his final resting place. The Boy Scouts, with all their Flags, stood behind the grave site. It was a touching site to say the least. The Boy Scouts sang Taps for Uncle George one last time, and a Bagpipe player played Amazing Grace. He played the first verse facing Uncle George, and then marched off through the honor guard walkway, playing the second verse. As he walked away, the sound faded, and the funeral came to a close.
Uncle George was a great man, and will always be remembered. His love and kindness were contagious, making better people of everyone he met. Uncle George had jotted down some final thoughts for his family to pass along to his friends in the event of his death. Uncle George was a Funeral Director, and a Scout, so he was always “prepared.”
His words are valuable guidance, and are the ideals that Lauri and I hold dear.
“To all my friends, family, and loved ones: I was able to love because you let me love!! Spread it daily. Never let a day go by that you don’t tell someone who needs it that you love them. I am alright with my God. He knows my heart. I bet my life on Him. I ain’t worried. May that peace be all of yours. And never forget that service to humanity is the best work of life. And that
today is the first day of the rest of your life.”
Rest in Peace, Uncle George.
