Welcome Home PFC Harold Patrick Hannon

The weather was frigid; the winds were gusty,  but the sleet prediction of Friday night teetered out somewhere mid-state, so Marty and I decided to venture out early Saturday morning, to Scranton, with our destination being The Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church.

 Our purpose was to attend the funeral and reinterment of PFC Harold Patrick Hannon.

If you follow my blog, then you are aware that I have been actively involved with World War II MIA research, and I was asked by the non profit organization, History Flight, to come on board to help find families of MIA's whose bodies had been recovered on an island of Tarawa Atoll.  Although I was not involved with this particular family, I was asked to attend the service as a representative of the organization that was ultimately responsible for bringing closure to yet one more family.

I must say that it truly was an honor to be among those who witnessed Saturday's events unfold, and I am ever so grateful that the weather held out, and that my husband, Marty, was more than willing to drive the two hour trip in order for us to be present.

The bitter cold weather and icy roads didn't seem to be a factor for many. An amazing number of people came to show their respect to this man who perished in Nov. 1943, in the invasion of the island of Betio.

PFC Hannon was a Marine rifleman,  and so it seemed only fitting that so many local Marine Veterans were among those in attendance.

The Marine Honor Guard was on duty, acting as pall bearers for their fellow comrade.

They reverently escorted the casket from the hearse into the church while the music of bagpipes bellowed in the background. 

Once inside,  the flag was removed 

and a white linen pall was draped over the casket, which was then sprinkled with holy water by the priest, both a reminder of Harold's baptism. 

Upon entering the church, I had been surprised to see the Sanctuary decorated for the Christmas Season. As a past church decorator for 22 years, I had been trained to remove the decorations shortly after the Baptism of the Lord, which had been on Monday.  But the priest explained that he had chosen to leave them up, specifically for Hannon's final tribute, to recognize the 74 Christmases that had passed since the Marine had been listed as Missing in Action. 

And I don't think that he could have asked for a more fitting tribute.  

During the entire service, a smiling photo of Hannon stood out for all to see, reminding us of the man who was now being honored and remembered.

The priest presented an excellent sermon, sharing a personal story about Harold, who had been affectionately known as "Tidly" among his loved ones.  Apparently Tidly loved to play Tiddlywinks while growing up, and the nickname had stuck with him into his young adulthood.  

Father used the analogy, that like the game of Tiddlywinks, where one "skips" the pieces into a pot, Tidly had skipped himself, so to speak, into the lives of many who hadn't had the least inkling of who Tidly was. "His memory, who he was, will never disappear, from the littlest to the oldest; from the strongest to the weakest."  He was home now, and his memory was alive once again. 

Father's words were quite telling:  "Even though Tidly sounds kind of like a kid's game, which it is, there is nothing kiddish about it.  Is it?  Losing one's life in the way that Harold Patrick Hannon did....there is nothing kiddish about it at all."

Mass concluded with incense, traditionally considered a sign of honor to the body of the deceased.  A sign of our prayers for the deceased as we say farewell.  

It was time for "Tidly" to make his journey to his final resting place. The congregation joined the musicians in singing "God Bless America" as we made our way to the back of the church

where the honor guard was waiting.

The casket was once again draped with the flag, and PFC Harold P. Hannon was gently carried from the church.

Outside, veteran marines lined the walkway, standing at attention.

The church bells were ringing and the bagpipe was playing as PFC made his final decent from the church.  

The motorcade to the cemetery was 35 cars long, and we traveled quite a distance, weaving through various streets in the town.  I was touched to see one man stop his snow shoveling and put his hand over his heart, in reverence, as we approached the cemetery.

We then drove to the mausoleum for final prayers.

The honor guard and bagpiper were waiting.

PFC Hannon was carefully transferred from the hearse to the chapel while the Marine Hymn was played on the bagpipe in tribute.

Once inside, the casket was set for all to see. 

The flag was held while the gun salute could be heard outside, followed by the playing of taps.

Then, the flag was meticulously folded.

And presented to the nephew of PFC Hannon along with words of gratitude for his service. 

Finally, PFC Hannon was removed to the hearse

where he was taken to his final resting place.  Once again, the marines were waiting at attention.

They carried the casket through the snow

to the plot where his mother and father are buried. There was room to bury him at the foot of his parents, which is where he will now lay.

Rest in peace, PFC Hannon.  It was obvious to me that your memory has touched the lives of many.  And, I for one, am proud to have been part of your final sendoff.