Death rituals: the grief fetish and military service

摘要

The question foreshadowed the disconnectedness I would feel over the next 24 hours. A family member asked me the day before the funeral if I would be wearing my uniform. My uniform? I haven't worn my uniform in nine years.... I paused, a bit shocked by the unexpected question. As a medically retired veteran, I suppose that I am technically authorized to wear my military uniform to events if I wish but doing so had not occurred to me. I explained to the family member that I would not be wearing it and that doing so would require me to cut my hair, shave my beard, and immediately lose 20-30 pounds so it would fit properly.