FAREWELL TO A TRUE PATRIOT

New York Post ^ | December 10, 2004 | MICHAEL WARNER, JENNIFER FERMINO and ANDY GELLER

[nickcarraway]

December 10, 2004 -- Thousands of his comrades lined the streets and packed a Bronx church yesterday to say a tearful goodbye to Chris Engeldrum — soldier, firefighter, cop and "the true definition of a hero." All 2,500 seats in St. Benedict's Church in Schuylerville were filled as Engeldrum — who risked his life on 9/11 and died tragically in Iraq — was remembered as a man of exceptional bravery and courage.

[NYer]

Thank you for posting this tribute to a true patriot! While the governor attended his funeral, the Lieutenant Governor shared her prayers with my neighbor's family as they buried their grandson, Sgt. David Michael Fisher, here in Watervliet NY.

Victoria DiMura weeps over the casket of her son, Sgt. David M. Fisher, 21, who died in Iraq, during funeral services Thursday at St. Brigid's Church. (Will Waldron / Times Union)

Lining the street were more than 50 police officers from various agencies, and on the sidewalk and church steps were about 100 military men and women, most of them in the National Guard.
Soldier's smile lingers for those left behind

My sincere gratitude to all the freepers who posted their prayers. These will be shared with his family.

[Northern Yankee]

God bless this man, and his family.

he has done more for this Country than Kerry will ever hope too.

What a hero.

[RepubMommy]

Was this yesterday? I was watching the Fox 5 10pm news last night and there was also a funeral for a fireifghter/solider. It wasn't this hero as the manwas older, and had teenaged sons.

[saquin]

This is the one. He has an 18 year old and 16 year old, I think.

[saquin]

Oops, I just realized you're talking about the pic posted of the 21 year old's casket. That's obviously a different person. Chris Engledrum, 39, is the one I'm talking about.

[SuziQ]

God Bless this Hero, and the family he left behind.

[clyde260]

Thank you for posting this. I was with a contingent of Bronx County American Legionaires. We laid a wreath in Chris' honor at Veterans Memorial Park, in Throggs Neck.

The funeral procession passed by where Chris lived and then passed by the park where we were waiting. The rifles saluted - Taps was played - and we saluted, no one flinched a muscle.

I could tell the family was greatful because they rolled down the windows of the limo to hear taps.