Jack Standley, left, with the Patriot Guard Riders, stands guard outside St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church before memorial service for Sgt. Joshua C. Brennan Tuesday
Posted on 11/06/2007 5:29:03 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
Sgt. Joshua Brennan, who hoped to become a Madison police officer like his father, chose to go back for another tour to help his fellow soldiers in Afghanistan, friends and family said at his funeral today.
In a ceremony marked by police honor guards, hundreds of friends, family and soldiers honored Brennan this morning at funeral services at St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church on Madison's west side.
Forty local police officers served as honor guards for Brennan, 22, who was killed in Afghanistan during a combat mission on Oct. 26.
Gov. Jim Doyle and Maj. Gen. Robert Radin attended the funeral, where Brennan was eulogized by his close friend and fellow sergeant Thomas Hunter, who served with Brennan in Afghanistan and accompanied Brennan's body back to the U.S. for the services.
Monsignor Michael Burke said that Brennan told his father, Madison Police Officer Michael Brennan, that when he was out of the Army, he wanted to follow his footsteps.
Following the funeral, Brennan was to be laid to rest at a cemetery in McFarland.
"We had 450 children in here in church this morning to witness the love and the pageantry from the Army and its members and they will never forget that," Burke said. "We remember Josh and the ultimate sacrifice he made for others."
Jack Standley, left, with the Patriot Guard Riders, stands guard outside St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church before memorial service for Sgt. Joshua C. Brennan Tuesday
McFarland High School students pay respect as hearse carrying casket of Sgt. Joshua C. Brennan passes by near the school.
A group of children, hold signs paying respect to Sgt. Joshua C. Brennan.
Collin Schmidt holds flag as hearse carrying casket of Sgt. Joshua C. Brennan passes McFarland High School.
Parents of Sgt. Joshua C. Brennan hold flags presented to them during burial service.
A friend of Sgt. Joshua C. Brennan kneels at his casket after burial service at McFarland Cemetery.
My town just went through this. It is so sad, but we can all be very proud of our soldiers. My son is in the ANG, and a brother-in-law, and nephew always have their Harley’s ready to stand guard. You can be proud of your city, too, for showing their patriotism and love for a good soldier.
Monitor suddenly very blurry.
Trust me, it ain’t easy holding a military funeral in “The People’s Republik of Madistan.”
I’m still amazed that there was no one protesting this Hero’s funeral. However, having ‘The Patriot Guard’ around certainly helped. God Bless Them! :)
I stopped posting photos after that last one. I couldn’t take it anymore. ;)
Thanks for the post. Pictures seem out of focus for some reason...
God Bless Sgt. Brennan and grant his family peace and comfort in the loss. We thank him for his service. I am so glad the little children came out to support them.
The Patriot Guard main site is “gone”.
Anybody know what happened to it?
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