"We've seen the best of America," - a fallen soldier's father
You always look for the good in a sad situation. It was there during the weeks since June 6 as the process of burying U.S. Army 1st Lt. Mat Fazzari of Walla Walla was carried out.
If you missed my earlier column related to Mat, he was the best man at my daughter Berney's wedding and Godfather to her first son. He died in Afghanistan on the 6th when his helicopter was shot down.
The Walla Walla Union Bulletin printed the schedule of events for the return of the city's first Afghanistan War death. The community responded with unbelievable support and respect.
Thousands of residents lined the streets of the procession route from the airport to the funeral home on the 19th. There were more American flags along the route than you might have imagined existed in Walla Walla.
On Friday, the 22nd, Assumption Catholic Church was packed with family, friends and supporters. People lined the walls, and the parish hall was full. There were supporters and flags leading to and around the burial site.
A motorcycle group of U.S. veterans known as the Patriot Guard had a presence of about 30 throughout the week. And of course the U.S. Army conducted the military portion of the funeral. Taps had never sounded so sad to those in attendance.
The process came to a close on Saturday with a memorial to Mat's life. His wife Tovah and father Greg spoke, along with Berney's husband Andrew Neal and several friends, including a ROTC representative from Gonzaga University.
After two weeks of tears, each of the speakers, including Tovah and Greg, brought laughter with some of their memories of Mat.
Noting the unbelievable support and expressing his appreciation for the outpouring of love and compassion, Greg said: "We've seen the best of America."
All of the speakers alluded to what had been lost in this life ended too soon. Mat was so solid in his Catholic faith that people older than him said they were inspired by his example to be better and do better.
Greg Fazzari took note of that and wished aloud that it doesn't take another death for those in attendance to take note of an exemplary life again.
As tough as this period was for Greg and Tovah, they put out a call for the names of all Walla Walla men and women serving in uniform so they, too, could be honored at Mat's memorial.
They were surprised by the high number. They're certain they didn't get all of the names, but they listed about 150 on the projection screen at the end of the memorial.
Greg asked those in attendance to pray for those serving.
I, too, saw the best of America, and it included Greg and Tovah. As we near the celebration of the birth of this country, it gave me a renewed sense of pride.