A police officer who was killed while serving in Iraq with the Rhode Island National Guard was buried Friday with full police and military honors.
Staff Sgt. Joseph Camara, 40, died Sept. 1 when his Humvee struck a mine near Baghdad.
Police and military honor guards stood at attention and bagpipes skirled as the flag-draped casket, accompanied by a riderless horse, was brought to Mount Carmel Church.
Govs. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts and Donald Carcieri of Rhode Island attended the funeral, along with U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass.
”He and the others who died in this conflict, as in all other conflicts, are innocent and, like Christs themselves, allow themselves to be in the words of Jesus … persecuted for righteousness’ sake,” the Rev. Jack Oliveira said at the funeral.
”He was an exceptional partner,” said Police Officer Luis Sud-Martinez.
”He had no qualms about going back and serving his duty in the military. He had put his time in and was ready to retire but he went back and he had a job to do,” he said. [Boston Globe]