Posted by
Cyber Pastor on Monday, June 25, 2007 1:04:33 AM
Today SSG Michael A. Bechert was laid to rest! This is a little snipet from the early online reports of the funeral. My wife took some amazing pictures of the day's crowd, and I've never seen anything like it in our small town.
I will post the pictures as soon as I get time to download them (hopefully Monday night)! In the meantime, I want to say how proud I am 1) of the sacrifice made by SSG Bechert, 2) of our small town turning out in mass to recognize this hero, when no one I have talked to knew him or his family. The respect given was just that - true respect for an American hero, 3) of the awesome show of support from the Patriot Guard Riders. I will give more details in a future post, but I got a chance to talk to dozens of these fine men and women (and yes I hugged one for you Margot), and I believe without exception when I thanked them for being here, they said "it's my honor".
I'm anxious to get the pictures out to you, unfortunately my schedule won't let me get it done early on Monday, and it's too late to do tonight. Here's the snipet, and their picture.
Soldier laid to rest in Hope
Sgt.(SSG) Michael A. Bechert, a U.S. soldier fatally wounded in Iraq, was laid to rest Sunday in a quiet, tree-lined spot in Hope Moravian Cemetery.
Bechert was not from Bartholomew County and most recently lived in Germany with his wife, Daniela, and their 20-month-old son, Brandon, but he chose to be buried in Hope next to his mother's grave.
Area residents responded with an outpouring of support and respect as they lined Hope's Main Street between Norman Funeral Home and Hope Moravian Church.
Staff Sgt. Michael Bechert is carried out of Norman
Funeral Home in Hope Sunday prior to the procession
to Hope Moravian Cemetery.
Photo by Joel Philippsen
www.therepublic.com