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thedrifter
06-06-07, 08:28 AM
Fort Collins honors Marine killed in Iraq

The Sound of Silence

A community pays its last respects to a fallen hero

By Greg Campbell

The crack of rifle fire in three quick volleys, the tinkle of spent cartridges on asphalt and the somber, chilling notes of “Taps” echoed solemnly up to the flawless cornflower sky Saturday outside St. Joseph’s Catholic Church as 26-year-old Marine Sgt. Nicholas Walsh, killed in fighting in Fallujah, Iraq, on May 26, was laid to rest with military honors.


Otherwise, the street surrounding the church was almost totally silent—at least 200 people had gathered outside the filled-to-capacity church to pay their respects. They included children, housewives, businessmen and retirees, many with no connection at all to Walsh or his family. They mingled with Marines in dress blue uniforms and nearly 100 leather-clad motorcyclists who rode from across the state to ring the four corners of the intersection with full-sized American flags.

The spectators arrived well before the 9:30 a.m. service, many in anticipation of countering an expected demonstration by members of the Westboro Baptist Church from Topeka, Kan. The protesters never appeared, but no one left … with no words exchanged among them, it was clear that those who gathered outside the church collectively decided to stay as long as it took to see Sgt. Walsh duly honored for his service.

After an hour-long funeral mass, the doors of the church opened, releasing the muted final notes of “Battle Hymn of the Republic” and the casket was carried by the Marines Honor Guard into the center of Mountain Avenue. The sidewalk and the church steps filled with mourners; those who’d waited outside stood from where they were resting. As before, when the Marines carried Walsh’s casket into the church, there was pin-drop silence, the solemnity emanating for at least a block in all directions, where passers-by dismounted bicycles and paused in their errands to watch with the same degree of respect as the Marines themselves. The only sounds were far off sound of a train whistle, especially mournful on this morning, and the clack of dress shoes as a Marine marched slowly to the head of the casket and posthumously awarded Walsh the Purple Heart.

With a practiced dignity that has played out in communities throughout the country, the Marines folded the flag draping the casket and presented it to Walsh’s family, which included his wife, children and parents. Walsh’s oldest son, 4-year-old Triston, hugged his mother’s legs and softly hid his face in her dress.

After the salutes had been raised, after the last note of “Taps” faded into silence, after the Marines had placed the casket in a gray hearse, Triston turned to watch as it slowly pulled away.

He raised his hand in a small wave goodbye to his father, a silent gesture more meaningful and powerful than any 21-gun salute.

Ellie