Andrew D. Bedard
 Andrew D. Bedard U.S. Marine Private 1st Class 1986-2005 Missoula |
Missoula Marine remembered as good friend, understanding man at funeral Mass
MISSOULA (AP) – Andrew Bedard, a Marine killed in Iraq, was remembered Friday as a loyal, kind and understanding young man who died too young.
A crowd of nearly 700 people packed St. Anthony Catholic Church Friday morning for Bedard’s funeral and hundreds more lined the route to St. Mary’s Cemetery, many holding American flags.
Bedard had been in Iraq only a month when a roadside bomb exploded under his Humvee while he and his platoon were on a mission to rescue other Marines caught in a firefight.
The services began with Bedard being awarded the Purple Heart.
The Rev. Gary Reller celebrated the Mass. Gov. Brian Schweitzer and Lt. Gov. John Bohlinger attended, along with Mary Hyland, whose son, Army 1st Lt. Josh Hyland, died in a roadside bombing in Afghanistan in August.
“Thank you for choosing Andrew to enter into your holy kingdom,” Bedard’s father, Denny, said as he read from a letter he and his wife, Michelle, wrote to God. “You have made an excellent choice … While we will always ask why he was taken at such a young age, we are ever so grateful for the 19 1/2 years we had with him.”
Andrew’s father drew laughter when he told God Andrew would be ready for whatever tasks He had for him in Heaven, then added: “If you have a late-night shift, that would be nice. Something where he can sleep until 2 in the afternoon, then go to work. I know he would appreciate that.”
Their only child, Denny said, hung with popular kids at Hellgate High School. “But if you need someone to befriend someone who’s maybe not as popular, Andrew’s your guy. I know there’s more than one person here who would tell you Andrew is the one person who took the time to become their friend when others wouldn’t.”
Hunter Hessian, like Andrew a 2004 graduate of Hellgate, said, “It’s so hard not having the most understanding person in our group around right now to talk to.”
Hessian recalled how Andrew would drive 17 hours straight from boot camp in California just to spend a day in Missoula with his family and friends.
“I never saw him sleep while he was here, and I never knew how he could drive all the way back.”
The Rev. John Miller asked those at the funeral to remember Bedard as they live out the days he will never see.
“I am certain Andrew would say, `Live life for me. Do the things I would have done.’ So when you laugh, laugh for Andrew. When you have fun, do it in part for him. And if you do good and constructive things in your life, you are living out his life.”
Story courtesy pf the Associated Press.
