Geri Preger’s third-graders stood in a line in front of the state Capitol on Friday, saluting with their hands over their hearts as the black hearse carrying slain officer Donnie Young drove by.
“He was shot in our neighborhood,” said Preger, who teaches at St. Rose of Lima Catholic School, 1345 W. Dakota Ave. “This age, they are upset because he was a dad and he had children.”
Their somber faces reflected the mood along Colfax Avenue as Young’s funeral procession went by.
The 16 children were among hundreds of people lining the route from the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, where Young’s Mass was held, to Fort Logan National Cemetery, where his body was buried.
A cross-section of Colorado law enforcement, as well as officers from Florida to Seattle, rode in motorcycles, squad cars and mobile crime-scene vans in a 10-mile-long procession that took more than a half-hour to pass by.
The first cars reached the cemetery before the last one in the procession even left the church, according to police officials.
“We’re just kind of shocked how massive this is,” said Jan Barker, who was standing on a sidewalk along Colfax.
Among those in the procession was Ron Lazar, 50, who sold Young a black 2002 Harley- Davidson Fat Boy motorcycle. Young modified the motorcycle to make it go faster and took the bike on road trips, including one to the Black Hills Motorcycle Rally in Sturgis, S.D.
“He wanted to make it bigger and better,” Lazar said. “He wasn’t an ordinary guy.”
Several people stepped out of their offices Friday to watch the procession, including Rick Grice, director of Gov. Bill Owens’ energy management office.
“It’s extremely sad,” Grice said while standing on Colfax in front of a line of police motorcycles, just before the procession began. “It brings tears to my eyes to talk about it.
“I’m always grateful for (the police), but especially at times like this.”
Spirit Miracle, 58, stood with a small flag over her heart and saluted as the procession passed by in front of Station No. 1 of the Denver Fire Department and turned onto Kalamath Street.
“I salute them, and I give them my honor,” said Miracle, who was teary-eyed.
Preger said she took her class to the Capitol for a tour, but it was timed so the kids could also pay their respects to Young.
They attend the “poorest, smallest” school in the Denver Archdiocese, and many have experienced personal trauma and tragedy.
“We’re teaching them reverence and respect,” Preger said.
Staff writer Kirk Mitchell can be reached at 303-820-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com.
