Following a rifle volley Wednesday at Fort Logan National Cemetery, a Marine took the American flag off Larry Donell Harris Jr.’s silver casket, folded it and placed it on the lap of his weeping wife.
Quiet sobs from some of the many friends and family members who drove from the Marine corporal’s memorial to the cemetery could be heard during the traditional playing of taps.
And while there were plenty of tissues and tears to go around Wednesday, there also was a lot of singing, laughing and displays of appreciation.
“Our hearts are full of anguish, but we are here to celebrate,” said the Rev. Lamont Jackson of Hammond, La. “He is going home, so it’s a celebration. There is joy mixed with my tears.”
Hundreds gathered Wednesday at Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church in Denver and then at the Fort Logan cemetery to honor Marine Cpl. Harris, a Boulder High graduate who died July 1 in Afghanistan.
In the packed crowd were more than 15 members of the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, where Harris served in the cadet program, and Longmont’s Rick and Debra Anderson, who lost their son, Chris Anderson, in Iraq nearly four years ago.
During his eulogy, the Rev. Jules E. Smith comforted mourners by reminding them that freedom is costly and that Harris chose to put himself in harm’s way.
“No one took Cpl. Harris’ life,” Smith said. “He laid down his life for our freedom. And today we celebrate that he gave his life for his friends, country, family, and he is our hero.”
