A flock of 10 birds took flight over Highland Cemetery Monday morning during Lena Conger’s funeral. They weren’t headed just anywhere; they were going back to Topeka, their home.
Conger, who died Thursday, was laid to rest.
In honor of her peace and freedom, family members released the doves, said Conger’s niece, Barbie Webber.
The birds were trained by Bob Everson, Topeka, to fly long distances alone. Everson, who has been in the business 60 years, trained the birds to return to their home by releasing them in increments of 10 miles for each flight, according to Webber.
They can fly up to 600 miles, said Ken Slife, Conger’s brother.
Webber was concerned for the dove’s safety flying during hunting season, but Everson assured her that the birds had been trained to fly higher than regular birds and would not be shot down.
“We wanted to do something special for (Lena’s) passing and we heard about doves,” Webber said.
“As far as we know this has never been done in Iola,” Slife added.
Steve Greenwall, with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, explained the importance of the dove’s symbolism during his eulogy. They represents peace, the Holy Spirit and freedom, Greenwall said.
At the viewing “On the Wings of a Snow-White Dove” was played, and Greenwall read some of the lyrics at the grave site.
Webber and Slife, at the end of the ceremony, released nine doves first, followed by one additional dove that was placed next to Conger’s coffin.
To get the doves to fly home, Webber and Slife were instructed not to feed them the night before.
“The birds, upon release fly into the air find their direction back home to eat,” Webber said.
After the doves were released it took them roughly five minutes before disappearing over the north horizon. The flight to Topeka is three hours for the birds and Everson was sure the birds would get home safely.
The birds were not the only guests who came from a distance to pay their respects, family members from California were also in attendance, along with local family and friends.
