Akron son laid to rest

Published March 30, 2004
By Jim Carney and Marilyn Miller
Beacon Journal staff writer

The war came home on March 29, 2004, as Summit County opened its arms to embrace and honor a fallen hero.

Well over 1,000 people lined state Route 619 and South Main Street as the body of U.S. Marine Cpl. Andrew Brownfield passed by in a 100-plus-car funeral procession from the Billow Lakes Chapel in New Franklin to Holy Cross Cemetery in Akron.

Brownfield, 24, a 1999 graduate of North High School, was killed March 18 in an Iraqi mortar attack at an air base northwest of Baghdad where he had been stationed for just about six weeks.

The Akron man was the first Summit County resident to be killed in the war in Iraq.

On Sunday, nearly 700 people visited the funeral home for calling hours. On Monday, more than 200 people filled the chapel for the funeral.

Barberton resident Wanda Vigar suggested that the community turn out along the procession route to show support for Brownfield.

And that's what happened.

An hour before the 1 p.m. service, people began lining the route, standing or sitting in lawn chairs. They brought American flags and Marine flags. Passing cars honked in support.

Inside the chapel, the flag-covered casket was at the front of the quiet room, surrounded by scores of floral arrangements as well as several easels holding photographs of Brownfield.

As the procession left the funeral home, a group of people standing at the road sang God Bless America.

``We are here to show our respect to a serviceman who gave the greatest gift of all'' -- his life -- said Lisa Diebold, 36, of Barberton, who was with her mother, Barbara Trippett, and her daughter, Barbie.

Along the 4.3-mile route to the cemetery, supporters were in small and large groups.

Some were alone.

Ken Lucas, 62, of New Franklin, drove his Harley-Davidson motorcycle to a spot along Turkeyfoot Golf Course.

``I am not a veteran,'' Lucas said. ``That is why I need to be here.'' He said because he did not have to fight for his country, ``I have to respect those that did.''

Near the corner of Route 619 and South Main, a woman held a sign that read, ``America. Home of the Free Because of the Brave.''

Lynn Pugliese of New Franklin gathered with a few dozen friends at Dano's Lakeside Pub for lunch, then waited for the funeral procession.

``We support what the troops are doing,'' said Pugliese, 46.

As she spoke, Mariah Carey's song Hero played over loudspeakers.

``Hopefully, nobody will forget this day,'' she said.

Marjorie Boigegrain of Canal Fulton said she was moved to line up with the others to show her support for the troops overseas.

``I'd like to see them all come home, but not like this,'' she said.

Vietnam veteran Dick Meredith of Firestone VFW Post 3383 planted about 100 flags along South Main. ``It's nice we can honor this man,'' he said.

Kent Smith, 57, who served in Vietnam with the Navy, said the crowd at the funeral was not about any political issue.

``We're voting for the kid today,'' he said.

Silence cloaked the front lawn of Lakeview Elementary School along South Main Street, where more than 200 flag-waving students watched the procession.

``He was protecting our country and our freedom,'' said 7-year-old Jacob Atkinson, a first-grader.

The words ``We remember Cpl. Andrew Brownfield'' were on the school marquee.

Coventry Fire Department firetrucks were parked at the end of the school's two driveways. A flag was draped from one of the ladders.

Jay Mitchell, 63, of the Goodyear Heights area of Akron, grabbed the flag off his front porch and stood along the road.

``How sorry I feel for the family,'' he said.

Some who turned out, like Irene Skinner, 49, of Lake Township, are military moms.

Skinner held a picture of her son, Kevin Skinner, 21, who has been stationed in Iraq for the last five months.

``I am proud of what my son is doing, and I'm proud of this young man,'' she said. ``I know if this happened to me, I would hope families would also offer their support.''

More than a half-century ago, in 1951, Dolores Fetchu of New Franklin lost her husband, William Lees, in the Korean War.

``Too bad we can't do this for every one of them,'' she said.

Vietnam veteran Dave Case, 59, of Lake Township, arrived at the cemetery more than an hour before the funeral and, like hundreds of others, carried a flag.

The Army veteran said it is hard to see such a young man die.

``Twenty-four years old. Life hasn't started, and here is where he will be today,'' Case said.

Sunny skies turned cloudy, and a cool wind began to blow as the funeral procession entered the cemetery.

At 3:03 p.m., six Marines carried the casket to the grave.

Another Marine accompanied Brownfield's mother, Melody Roop of Stow, and his fiancee, Michell Hackworth of California.

At 3:09 p.m., seven Marines fired a 21-gun salute for their fallen comrade from a hill nearby.

Eight minutes later, the service was over.

When the only ones left at the grave were Marines and funeral home officials, Clinton resident Lynn Shoults got permission to walk up to the casket.

Shoults, 40, who has a 19-year-old daughter, did not know this Marine.

She knelt next to the casket and said a prayer of thanks to Brownfield for giving his life for his country.

``He is somebody's child,'' she said in tears as she walked toward her car.

Marine Gunnery Sgt. Joseph Leonard, 37, who was Brownfield's supervisor at the Marine Air Ground Combat Center at Twentynine Palms, Calif., where Brownfield was stationed, stood by the grave as the cars filed out.

Leonard flew last week to Dover Air Base, where Brownfield's body arrived from Iraq. His job was to stay with him in Delaware and to accompany him back to Akron.

His assignment was to make sure Brownfield was never alone. Even when the casket was being lowered into the ground.

Brownfield will get one of his final wishes.

The Marine was born Andrew D. Simmons. His last name was changed to Brownfield when he was in grade school. Recently, his family said he expressed a desire to change his name back to Simmons when he left the Marines.

The name on the marker at the cemetery will read Andrew D. Simmons.