British Soldier Honors Battlefield Pact, Wears A Dress To Best Friend's Funeral

This story just destroys me.

It was a promise neither man would have wanted to keep. Yesterday the funeral of a Black Watch soldier killed in Afghanistan took a bizarre turn when his best friend arrived in a bright green dress and pink leg warmers to honour a pact that the two of them 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.

This weekend in Grand Central Terminal, I saw a Marine being seen off by his family. The kid was so young, so incredibly young, not a whisker on his chin, and all I could think was, "This child shouldn't be going off to war. He should be at home, playing Rock Guitar and sending girls awkward text messages." Even though I know how very young our troops can be, it always takes my breath away when I see them in their uniforms. Or in a lime green dress.