There's only one person to give the flag to. Lucky me has been elected to give it to her, since I'm the oldest. I never wished I could be young so much. But first, I take a rose left at the foot of the casket and walk down, placing it over where his chest might be. I stand straight and salute, meeting my partner's eye across the casket. There's tears in his eyes, as I know there are in mine, but I don't even register that it's the first time I've seen him cry. Instead, I snap my hand down and execute an about face, facing his sister. The one I have to give the flag to.
As I face her, I saulte her as well, dimly noting the tears streaming down her face as well. Then, her son, who I imagine to be no more than seven, stands up and salutes me. It's then that my tears start to run down my face. I stare at him, wondering if he really knows what's happening, that he's lost his uncle forever, but push the thought from my mind as another one enters.
This is the next Captain. This is the next Cragen.
The next Dad.