R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Reflect. Remember. Honor. Memorial Day offers a moment to pay tribute to the men and women killed in military service. Flags are flown, ceremonies are held and the nation slows down.

Yet, the rest of the year, services to honor a life don't seem to spark the same attention and respect. People don't salute the flag, and they don't pull over for funeral processions.

One veteran blames a lack of attention to surroundings and dwindling education on etiquette.

Commander Roger Fox of the American Legion post in Cedar Rapids said it's a rare occasion to see younger genera­tions saluting the American flag in a funeral procession. Once, however, he said he was 'tick­led' to see a woman teaching her grandson how to put his hand over his heart when a flag passed.

'They don't know what flag and country means,' he said, referring to younger generations who have never worried about a military draft.

Fox said he believes people are just moving too fast to notice what's really going on.

'People need to be aware. Pay a little respect, slow down and do not pass,' he said. 'A lot of people are just flying by. They think, 'Oh, it's just another dead guy.' ' Laws in Iowa City and Cedar Rapids prohibit drivers from cutting into funeral processions. Though it may happen on occasion, officials say it's not a common occurrence.

The Iowa City Police Department offers police escorts.

Budget cuts have kept the force busy, but community service officers are often available to lead funeral processions, said community service officer April Miller.

They can't always be there, though. In that case, Miller said, people must remember to use good judgment and show proper respect.

In Cedar Rapids, a police escort isn't available because of staffing and budget issues, Sgt. Cristy Hamblin said.

'I would love to help more,' she said, 'but it's next to impossible, financially speaking. There is the logical side of thinking and the heart side of thinking.' Though it's hard to miss the flags that line cemeteries and streets today, funeral home directors say that on a typical day, getting travelers to notice when a funeral procession is passing through is always a challenge.

Peter Teahen, president of Teahen Funeral Home in Cedar Rapids, said that over time - especially now that most cars have daytime running lights - funeral officials have had to be more aggressive and make more of a spectacle to gain the attention of those passing by.

That includes making sure procession vehicles stay close to each other, using flashing and high­beam lights, placing flags on procession vehicles and educating drivers.

While state law requires drivers to pull over, Vicki Lensing, coowner of Lensing Funeral & Cremation in Iowa City, said there is no 'magic formula' to ensure they do.

A few details that should tip off drivers, she said, include slow drivers, hazard lights, flags and flashing colored lights on the car leading the pack.

'Distracted drivers are huge problems,' she said.

'People are in a hurry. I think it's a symptom of our times.'