I thank everyone who reads this story i know that some of you are sad that Chris died. I do have a follow up story in the works already and will start on it as soon as this one is done. thank you for the reviews, i can't express how much i love to read them, it lets me know what people think, so keep them coming, if u dont like the story please fell free to voice ur opinion as well i am very openminded.

Chapter 12

"It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died.
Rather we should thank God that such men lived."

- General Patton

It was the day of the funeral and everyone was somewhat tence around Angel because they knew that she would take it very hard. Bishop arranged a private funeral for the turtles and their friends. When Angel and the turtles got to the chruch that Bishop gave them. Things had been tence especially betweent Leo and the other turtles. No one knew about Leo sending Chris the letter and thougth Leo and Chris left things unresolved. They were surprised at the amount of people that showed up for Chris's funeral. There were people from all over that even the turtles did not expect to show up. One of the first people to greet them was Karai and Chaplin.

"Master Splinter, I am very sadden for you loss, even though we used to be enemies, Chris was a kind heart and he will be missed. even at our Foot headquarters we have an American flag and it is at half-masked in his honor" Karai said.

"Thank you Karai, it is most honorable for you to do that" Splinter said back to her and bowed.

"And Angel I am sorry for your loss as well, as I said he was a good man" Karai said to Angel and gave her a sad smile.

"Thank you it means alot" Angel replied as Karai and Chaplin then walked off.

Just as they left Usagi and Gen walked over, followed by the Daimyo and his son. When they reached Angel, Splinter, and the turtles they gave each other a bow before the Daimyo spoke.

"Splinter, old friend, I am sadden for your losss as well as yours Angel, I did not know Chris very well but what I knew of him made me proud to have him as a friend." Daimyo said.

"Thank you old friend" Splinter said

"Angel, I am sorry, I met Chris and he was a true warrior, I am honored to have met him and have him as a friend" Usagi said

"Thank you Usagi, and know that Chris died like a warrior as well" Angel replied.

"Yea, he was good man to bad all of us knew that except fearless over here'' Raph growled, he was just upset about Chris and needed a place to vent. Leonardo said nothing and just walked away from Raph and stood by Angel and Splinter.

Soon after their guest from the Battle Nexus walked away, some unlikey guest came over to pay their respects to the family. It was the Ninja Tribunal.

"Welcome, we are glad you came, we were not sure you would" Splinter said

"It is us who is glad that we came. Your son Chris was a good soldier, he was a ninja in his own way" Kon said

"Tribunal, what will you do after you leave?" Leonardo asked

"We will be training new acolytes. Even though the Demon Shredder is dead, there is always a possibility of a new threat and we must be ready" Juto answered.

While everyone was talking Bishop came up to Angel and the turtles, "Its time" he said and everyone walked to the main room of the chruch. When they entered the room they saw a M-16 standing straight up with a helmat resting on top of it and a pair of boots infont of it and a pair of dogtags around the rifle. Behind it was a oppen casket with reafs all around. Angel felt her knees go weak but Splinter was beside her as well as the turltes and the rest of her friends and family. When she got to the front of the room she looked down into the casket and looked apon Chris. She instantly started crying. Leonardo was the closest to her and pulled her into a hug as she cried. Leonardo led Angel to the seat that was designated for her and sat beside her as she cried. Mikey looked at Chris and placed a comic and a video game in the casket.

"Something for you to read and something for you to play on your way to heaven" Mikey said as tears fell down his face and he walked over and sat beside Leo.

Raph walked up to the casket and put a small bottle of Jack Daniels beside him, "Heres one for the road brother" as he wiped tears from his face and walked away and sat by Mikey.

Donny walked up and looked at Chris. He took a pen and laid it next to the video game Mikey left. "Heres the Pen that I invented that had a radio and phone built into it. You always loved that pen and constantly asked me to let you have it, so here, take it with you and know that I love you and will miss you" He said and wiped away the tears and joined his family.

Everyone came and paid their respects and everyone was leaving some kind of gift for Chris. The Tribunal left a meddalion with the foot emblem on it while Karai left a similar gift which was made of pure gold and had a message engraved that read A True Warrior To The End. April and Casey put a Picture of the whole family including Chris in the Casket with him. Usagi and Daimyo put a Ceremonial Ninja star in the casket as well.

When everyone paid their respects and was seated Bishop started the funeral service.

"Sgt. Chris Hamato was a good soldier. He always followed orders and made sure that everyone in his unit was safe and did the right thing. He went into the most dangerous of missions even though it meant that he could die. In the end Chris showed true courage by saving his men without any thought of his own safety. I am proud to have had him as a soldier and he made the ultimate sacrifice to save so many others we will ever forget him or his sacrifice for his men and country." he finished

As Bishop walked away from the poduim several others came up and told stories about Chris and his life. When everyone was done only one person had not been up to say anythign and that was Leo, as he made his way to the poduim he grabbed the Microphone.

"I want everyone to know how I feel about Chris" he said as music started to play and he began to sing

Another mother's lost a son

They're folding up the flag again

As He's laid to rest in Arlington

He was not the only one

Cause many gave their lives that day

Cause of them the rest were saved

Everything in my life seems so small

When they are fighting for us all

A soldier fell today

He is my hero, not just another name

He stood for freedom and liberty

Then he died for me, sacrifice for me

A hero fell today

Little boy salutes his mom

He's dressed all in his Sunday best

Wears her medal on his chest

All his innocense is gone

He lays a rose and says goodbye

Never seen his father cry

The flag outside is flying low

To let the country know, let everyboy know!

A soldier fell today

She is my hero, not just another name

She stood for freedom and liberty

Then she died for me, sacrifice for me

A hero fell today

And it takes a hero to show us all the way

They stood for freedom and liberty

And just like me, I hope you'll see

The sacrifice they made

Hero fell today

Hero fell today

A hero fell today

When he finished Leonardo looked up to see everyone in tears and he put back up the micropohone and walked to the casket and laid a second letter that he did not get a chance to mail Chris beside him.

"I am sorry, I will miss you" He said and walked back and sat down by the others

After the service was done Bishop led everyone to the plot in Arlington where Chris would be laid to rest. When they got there they sat down in the chairs that were just for family and watched as the American flag was folded by the Honor Guard and the lead soldier handed the flag to Angel and saluted her then walked back to join the other soldiers. Then the turtles and the others heard something that they had never heard before, a melody, called Taps. As Taps was played the soldiers gave the 21 Gun Salute. The coffin was lowered into the whole as everyone watched.

After the funeral was over Raph and the others walked over to Leo.

"Hey, I am sorry for what I said bro" Raph said

"It's ok, I know how you feel" Leo answered

"No, its not ok, I have never heard anything like that, it was a good song and I am sure Chris would have been proud to have you sing it for him" Raph said again.

"Thanks" Leo replied.

"Leo that was beautiful" Angel said as she came up and hugged him.

"Well its getting late I think we should start back for New York" Donny said

"I will a few of my cars to take you home if you" Bishop said as he walked up.

"Thank you" Angel said

"Your welcome" Bishop replied then walked off

"Chris was good man and a good soldier, but most of all he was a good brother and son" Angel said as she walked with the others to the cars.

A few days later Angel sitting at a table thinking about Chris when a man walked up to her and sat down.

"Hi, I am David Morris. I am a journalist for the New York Times. I know that this is a had time for you but I was wandering if I could ask you a few questions?" he said

"What do you want to know?" Angel asked

"Your fiance was killed in Iraq right? I was just wanderin if you could tell me about it" He asked

Angel looked down at her cup, the man then said "Would you tell me how he died?"

Angel smiled to herself and then looked up to him

"I'll tell you how he lived"

The End

the song was by a group called patriot guard. I hope you all enjoyed this story. I am writing a sequal in case you were still wandering, look for it soon. please tell me what you thought of my story.