The funeral for SGT Ryan Jopek was held in Merrill, Wisconsin on August 14, 2006. Merrill is 130 miles northwest of Fort McCoy. I was there as part of the Patriot Guard.

I wrote at that time: “A few minutes before 1100, the word circulated that a bald eagle was circling overhead. We all saw it. At 1100 the eagle flew off and the service began.”

It could have been this eagle.

Photo 6408 shows the eagle perched.

Photo 6137 shows two eaglets, perhaps.

Photo 6464 shows the eagle soaring beyond Lane 5.

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