Keeping a Promise

By Miss Cellania in Everything Else on Sep 16, 2009 at 9:47 am

It takes a true friend to wear a dress to a funeral -if you’re a man. Barry Delaney of Dundee, Scotland wore a lime green minidress to the funeral of a soldier killed in Afghanistan to fulfill a pact the two had made.

Private Kevin Elliott and his friend, Barry Delaney, had agreed that whoever survived the other should wear a dress to the dead man’s funeral. Mr Delaney duly fulfilled the pledge as a tribute to Private Elliott, who was killed aged 24 while on foot patrol in the southern province of Helmand on August 31.

Mr Delaney wept on his knees at the graveside in Dundee as shots were fired during the military funeral. His dress plans are believed to have been known about in advance by other mourners.

Elliot, who had fulfilled his hitch and could have left the army, decided instead to fight in Afghanistan at the last minute. Hundreds turned out for the funeral. Link -via Fark

Tags: Afghanistan, funeral, Military, pact, promise

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FishBottleT
Sep 16th, 2009 at 10:12 am
Now that is commitment. The socks were a nice touch.
Neal
Sep 16th, 2009 at 11:20 am
I’ve been to Dundee and found the folks to be friendly and the University of Dundee to have a lot of very nice students.
Foreigner1
Sep 16th, 2009 at 11:34 am
Respect for his commitment.

…But it’ll teach us NEVER to do stupid promises, even in the hottest moment of the fight…!
gunter
Sep 16th, 2009 at 11:36 am
You would think there would be a joke here.

But there isn’t.
sertya
Sep 16th, 2009 at 11:38 am
Do you think there is a joke here?

Nope. i got nothin’
Gauldar
Sep 16th, 2009 at 11:49 am
I’m sure they thought it was funny when they made the pact. Best one could hope for those left alive is to look back on it and laugh one day as you toast to their memory.
Foreigner1
Sep 16th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
That sometimes is the tragic of this kind of promises- At least that is how some are made- You make them almost as silly as possible as a kind of talisman to ward off evil. Kind of like Death himself saying “Noooooo no no no no no these 2 have such a dorky agreement between them, so shameful- Let’s pass them this time and take another soul…”

Problem seems to be that Death has another sence of humor or fairness…
Kalel
Sep 16th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
I’m speechless in the face of such honor.
LisaL
Sep 16th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
So sad
Victoria Hart
Sep 16th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
Bless his heart.
Thanks for sharing.
MadMolecule
Sep 16th, 2009 at 3:57 pm
That picture is heartbreaking.
Chris Radus
Sep 16th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
I want a friend like that. And I want to think I could be a friend like that. And I hope where ever he is Kevin is laughing.
dooflotchie
Sep 16th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
Well, I was gonna say it was really brave of him to go through with that, but these two guys were serving their country in a war zone so they were already in the “Brave” category.

I hope no one ever gives Barry Delaney a hard time about this, it was a good thing, doing it out of respect and friendship like he did.
Sandy Elliott
Sep 16th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
As Kevins’ father let me just say that we the family knew of this pact between my son and Barry.
We are grateful and proud that Barry kept his promise and Kevin will be sitting somewhere laughing…
TwoFry
Sep 16th, 2009 at 9:03 pm
That is the most provoking photo I’ve seen in a good while. I hope I have friends as devoted as that.
BenJCarter
Sep 17th, 2009 at 12:23 am
With friends like that, Kevin was obviously a remarkable man.
alice
Sep 17th, 2009 at 2:43 am
god that’s sad. and remarkable. and sweet. mostly sad.
Tim Giachetti
Sep 17th, 2009 at 10:03 am
Man, I’m just in tears here, and I don’t normally cry over anything.
Wow, Sandy your son was obviously a wonderful person, cheers to his m8 for keeping the pact.
Honor above all is lacking in most people today.
Thank you for posting this, it brings a touch of humanity to all who witness it.
Oomi
Sep 17th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
More fotos of funeral:
http://trinixy.ru/38189-na-poxorony-druga-v-zhenskom-plate-5-foto.html #comment

(be aware site its on NSFW)
Noelegy
Sep 17th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
That’s a gesture that makes the funeral a celebration of the fallen soldier’s life. Very touching and sweet.
ted
Sep 17th, 2009 at 8:07 pm
Wow, somebody shoulda told him they do make dresses in other colours.

For some reason, I find this way more touching than the parents who married at their kid’s funeral.

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