thedrifter
08-08-06, 07:01 AM
Published Tuesday, August 8, 2006
MOTHER FORGIVES KILLER
Marine Who Died in Iraq Bombing Buried at Florida National Cemetery
By Diane Lacey Allen
The Ledger
BUSHNELL
Maria Elisa Williams saluted as two Marines pulled the American flag from her son's platinum casket Monday afternoon, gently tilting the stars and stripes above the rows of granite tombstones.
With white gloves, they made two folds and eight carefully formed triangles. Then Lt. Col. Kent Ralston continued the precision ritual and offered the mother of 27-yearold Sgt. Christian Bautista Williams the government's parting gift to the family of a fallen Marine.
Mrs. Williams took the folded flag, flipped it toward her heart and held tight.
On July 29, her son and three other Marines were killed by a suicide bomber in Al Anbar province in Iraq.
During a nearly two-hour funeral Mass at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Winter Haven on Monday morning, Mrs. Williams talked about teaching her children to forgive. After touching the body of her oldest child, she did just that.
"I forgive the man who
killed him," Mrs. Williams said.
She said she was comforted by her faith and the knowledge that God had molded Williams "to be the true American hero."
"Jesus took his hand so quick," she said.
"Mary was there and the angels were there to welcome him."
Dozens of Marines in dress uniforms with red piping and black patent leather shoes were present for the ceremonies. Some sniffled or wiped away tears.
Later, at the gravesite of her son, Mrs. Williams gently admonished a Marine for showing emotion while in uniform.
Mourners had followed the Patriot Guard Riders on a 21/2-hour, police-escorted processional that left Winter Haven and wound through Polk City and Sumter County before arriving at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell.
The patriotic group lined the Marine pallbearers' path with flags on the shell-specked walkway to Williams' burial site among the sentinel oaks and magenta crape myrtles.
"For a Marine, there is no better way to go out -- a hero," said Cpl. Richard Reed, a friend from Williams' unit, after the interment.
"To die for your country, there's no greater honor," said Sgt. Josh Kelly, a former roommate.
Friends and family also spoke of his dedication during the Mass in Winter Haven.
The Rev. Peter Puntal called Williams' memorial a "celebration of America."
He painted a picture of a young man who knew how to love and gave the ultimate sacrifice for his country.
"Freedom has a cost . . ." Puntal said. "His heroic act is the fruit of the virtue of America.
"As we celebrate his life, he protects all of us," he said. "Watches over us."
Williams' friend, Derrick Lettau, was one of the liturgical readers during the Mass.
So was Williams' fiancee, Marine Pfc. Andreia Hutcheson.
And Williams' sister, Neliza Richburg.
Williams' family was presented with his Purple Heart at the church.
His father, Jack, spoke briefly near the conclusion of the service, as did Richburg and Hutcheson.
Lettau described Williams as a record-setting weightlifter at Lake Region High School and a friend he would follow into the Marines.
He remembered Williams as a Marine who would shine his boots on the weekend while everyone else was out having a good time.
"He died doing what he wanted to do," Lettau said. "He died being a Marine."
At Bushnell, Lettau wanted to make that point again after Williams was laid to rest.
Williams had his chance to leave the Marines, Lettau said. He got out when his first tour was up. But Williams preferred the Corps to civilian life and reenlisted.
"I just want people to know he chose to go back in," Lettau said. "This was his destiny. His destiny."
Diane Lacey Allen can be reached at diane.allen@theledger.com or 863-802-7514.
Ellie
MOTHER FORGIVES KILLER
Marine Who Died in Iraq Bombing Buried at Florida National Cemetery
By Diane Lacey Allen
The Ledger
BUSHNELL
Maria Elisa Williams saluted as two Marines pulled the American flag from her son's platinum casket Monday afternoon, gently tilting the stars and stripes above the rows of granite tombstones.
With white gloves, they made two folds and eight carefully formed triangles. Then Lt. Col. Kent Ralston continued the precision ritual and offered the mother of 27-yearold Sgt. Christian Bautista Williams the government's parting gift to the family of a fallen Marine.
Mrs. Williams took the folded flag, flipped it toward her heart and held tight.
On July 29, her son and three other Marines were killed by a suicide bomber in Al Anbar province in Iraq.
During a nearly two-hour funeral Mass at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Winter Haven on Monday morning, Mrs. Williams talked about teaching her children to forgive. After touching the body of her oldest child, she did just that.
"I forgive the man who
killed him," Mrs. Williams said.
She said she was comforted by her faith and the knowledge that God had molded Williams "to be the true American hero."
"Jesus took his hand so quick," she said.
"Mary was there and the angels were there to welcome him."
Dozens of Marines in dress uniforms with red piping and black patent leather shoes were present for the ceremonies. Some sniffled or wiped away tears.
Later, at the gravesite of her son, Mrs. Williams gently admonished a Marine for showing emotion while in uniform.
Mourners had followed the Patriot Guard Riders on a 21/2-hour, police-escorted processional that left Winter Haven and wound through Polk City and Sumter County before arriving at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell.
The patriotic group lined the Marine pallbearers' path with flags on the shell-specked walkway to Williams' burial site among the sentinel oaks and magenta crape myrtles.
"For a Marine, there is no better way to go out -- a hero," said Cpl. Richard Reed, a friend from Williams' unit, after the interment.
"To die for your country, there's no greater honor," said Sgt. Josh Kelly, a former roommate.
Friends and family also spoke of his dedication during the Mass in Winter Haven.
The Rev. Peter Puntal called Williams' memorial a "celebration of America."
He painted a picture of a young man who knew how to love and gave the ultimate sacrifice for his country.
"Freedom has a cost . . ." Puntal said. "His heroic act is the fruit of the virtue of America.
"As we celebrate his life, he protects all of us," he said. "Watches over us."
Williams' friend, Derrick Lettau, was one of the liturgical readers during the Mass.
So was Williams' fiancee, Marine Pfc. Andreia Hutcheson.
And Williams' sister, Neliza Richburg.
Williams' family was presented with his Purple Heart at the church.
His father, Jack, spoke briefly near the conclusion of the service, as did Richburg and Hutcheson.
Lettau described Williams as a record-setting weightlifter at Lake Region High School and a friend he would follow into the Marines.
He remembered Williams as a Marine who would shine his boots on the weekend while everyone else was out having a good time.
"He died doing what he wanted to do," Lettau said. "He died being a Marine."
At Bushnell, Lettau wanted to make that point again after Williams was laid to rest.
Williams had his chance to leave the Marines, Lettau said. He got out when his first tour was up. But Williams preferred the Corps to civilian life and reenlisted.
"I just want people to know he chose to go back in," Lettau said. "This was his destiny. His destiny."
Diane Lacey Allen can be reached at diane.allen@theledger.com or 863-802-7514.
Ellie