thedrifter
02-18-09, 01:22 PM
‘It is overwhelming’: Hundreds attend funeral for fallen Marine in Bridgewater
By Jessica Scarpati
Wed Feb 18, 2009, 11:53 AM EST
BRIDGEWATER - Gentle piano music and tearful sniffling were the only sounds in the usually bustling center of town.
Hundreds clamored around Central Square Congregational Church to watch U.S. Marines carry the flag draped coffin of Lance Cpl. Kevin Preach into the church.
Veteran police officers and firefighters stood at salute while dozens of others wiped tears from their eyes and held flags.
Just after 10:30 a.m., mother Laurie Hayes entered the church, flanked by relatives and loved ones, including Preaches girlfriend of two years, Brianna Kelliher.
Gov. Deval Patrick entered the church behind them.
“It goes to here,” said Rhonda Roberts, 63, of West Bridgewater, touching her heart with tears in her eyes as she stood watching the procession.
Dozens of people stood outside the church as a loudspeaker broadcast the funeral service.
Earlier, mourners gathered at Bridgewater common , clutching flags to honor Preach, as they waited for his funeral procession to pass by.
Firefighters from Raynham, and Bridgewater suspended a flag over the procession route on Route 18, using fire tower trucks.
Paul St. Andre, 22, of Brockton, was on his way to class at Bridgewater State College but came early to see the procession.
He said he has friends serving in the military in Iraq.
“I’m not really an emotional person but when I saw the flag, it brought a tear to my eyes,” Andre said.
Bette Stewart, 72, of Bridgewater, stood crying near a memorial set up earlier this week to honor Preach in front of town hall.
She said she didn’t know the Preach family but the young man’s death hit her hard.
“This has knocked me out. It is overwhelming,” she said. “It really is. I just hate war and I don’t like young men losing their lives.”
Preach died on Feb. 7 at Brooks Army Medical Center in San Antonio from wounds suffered in Afghanistan when the Humvee, in which he was a gunner, was hit by an improvised explosive device on Jan. 24.
Preach was a 2007 graduate of Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School.
Ellie
By Jessica Scarpati
Wed Feb 18, 2009, 11:53 AM EST
BRIDGEWATER - Gentle piano music and tearful sniffling were the only sounds in the usually bustling center of town.
Hundreds clamored around Central Square Congregational Church to watch U.S. Marines carry the flag draped coffin of Lance Cpl. Kevin Preach into the church.
Veteran police officers and firefighters stood at salute while dozens of others wiped tears from their eyes and held flags.
Just after 10:30 a.m., mother Laurie Hayes entered the church, flanked by relatives and loved ones, including Preaches girlfriend of two years, Brianna Kelliher.
Gov. Deval Patrick entered the church behind them.
“It goes to here,” said Rhonda Roberts, 63, of West Bridgewater, touching her heart with tears in her eyes as she stood watching the procession.
Dozens of people stood outside the church as a loudspeaker broadcast the funeral service.
Earlier, mourners gathered at Bridgewater common , clutching flags to honor Preach, as they waited for his funeral procession to pass by.
Firefighters from Raynham, and Bridgewater suspended a flag over the procession route on Route 18, using fire tower trucks.
Paul St. Andre, 22, of Brockton, was on his way to class at Bridgewater State College but came early to see the procession.
He said he has friends serving in the military in Iraq.
“I’m not really an emotional person but when I saw the flag, it brought a tear to my eyes,” Andre said.
Bette Stewart, 72, of Bridgewater, stood crying near a memorial set up earlier this week to honor Preach in front of town hall.
She said she didn’t know the Preach family but the young man’s death hit her hard.
“This has knocked me out. It is overwhelming,” she said. “It really is. I just hate war and I don’t like young men losing their lives.”
Preach died on Feb. 7 at Brooks Army Medical Center in San Antonio from wounds suffered in Afghanistan when the Humvee, in which he was a gunner, was hit by an improvised explosive device on Jan. 24.
Preach was a 2007 graduate of Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School.
Ellie