Hanging up the reins
A boy in a blue t-shirt, watching as his uncle is loaded into the back of a horse drawn hearse. A moment frozen forever in a photograph…Tino Vasquez remembers what his son, who was wearing the blue t-shirt, said that day.
“He really liked the horse drawn hearse,” Vasquez said. “Mom, he told my wife, that’s really cool and I would like to use that too!”
More than a decade later, on June 5, 2005, that little pall bearer, now Staff Sergeant Justin Vasquez, was killed by an IED in Iraq.
Lorraine Melgosa, whose 1867 funeral coach had impressed a young SSG Vasquez, offered her services for free.
“To me, it was an honor,” Tino said. “It made it that much easier and that much more comfortable; easier to deal with, that he was going to rest in a nice and honorable way.”
For Melgosa, it began years of sacrifice for fallen soldiers and others. Melgosa offered her services to families of soldiers, police officers, murder victims and children…for free.
“Once you realize that a stranger is dying for you, it humbles you and brings you to your knees and you realize you need to do everything you can to be worthy of that,” Melgosa said.
Rain or shine, early mornings and late nights, Melgosa and her prized Percheron horses have carried around 700 to their final resting place; over 50 were fallen service members.
“When I see their grief, I’m still reminded that what I do just pales in comparison to the sacrifices that the families and the troops are making,” Melgosa said.
But after 20 years and countless tears, Melgosa has hung up her reins. She is retired.
“I’m not as young as I used to be and my health isn’t what it used to be,” Melgosa said.
The effort and hours to make everything perfect for families in the final moments with their loved one has become too much.
“I’ll always want to be able to give my best and when it comes to the point where I don’t think I can give my best then it’s time to quit. I think that time has come,” Melgosa said.
Retired, but in negotiations with the Colorado National Guard to take over the horse drawn hearse.
“They are trying to figure out if they can come up with money from their budget or possibly starting a non-profit,” Melgosa said.
Melgosa has retirement to look forward too, but her heart will always be with this horse and hearse, the same one that caught a little boy’s admiration all those years ago.
