Mournful morning

Dozens of flag-holding onlookers lined Main Street downtown yesterday morning to pay their respects to Bacevich, the first soldier from town to die in the Iraq war, as his funeral procession passed from James H. Delaney & Son Funeral Home in Walpole to St. Timothy Church in Norwood.

Also downtown, the Norwood Fire Department assembled an arch over Main Street using two extended ladders bridged by a large American flag.

"That's the least we can do," said firefighter Steve Lydon.

At two Main Street locations outside downtown - the Stop & Shop plaza and in front of the Norfolk County Agricultural High School - hundreds of students and adults stood along the road to salute the fallen soldier.

The funeral procession included 23 motorcyclists from the Metro-LEC regional police unit, representing Walpole, Mansfield, Avon, Abington, Norfolk, Norwood, Norton, Weymouth, Dedham, the sheriff's office and state police.

Gov. Deval Patrick, U.S. Sen. John Kerry, and former Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey were among the crowd at St. Timothy. Walpole Police and firefighters, the Police and Fire honor guards, Town Administrator Michael Boynton, selectmen Chairman Joseph Denneen and Selectman Al DeNapoli were also present.

The Rev. John Culloty celebrated the funeral Mass and in his homily urged the mourners not to trouble themselves with questions about why Andrew's life was cut short. He said these matters are all in God's hands.

The burial was at Rural Cemetery in Walpole.

Bacevich, an Army first lieutenant in the 1st Cavalry Division, died May 13 when an improvised explosive device tore through his patrol in Salah Ad Din province in Iraq.

Danielle Mahoney of Walpole, whose father fought in Vietnam, said she came out "to show a sign of respect."

Walpole seniors Mary Cummings and Margaret Sheehan wanted to honor the soldier.

"I think it's wonderful that the Walpole Fire Department is out here giving flags to everyone to show respect for this soldier," Cummings said.

"I've never seen a town do it before," Sheehan added.

Patty Digan of Franklin noted her son's Blessed Sacrament School fifth-grade class "adopted" Bacevich's unit last year, writing letters and sending care packages to Iraq.

"The saddest thing is that his father is opposed to the war ... and that his son had to die in this war," Digan said.

The senior Bacevich, also named Andrew J. Bacevich, lives on Courtney Road with his wife, Nancy. A Boston University professor of history and international relations and a retired Army lieutenant colonel, he has criticized the war through books and newspaper columns.

Linda Coletti, whose 86-year-old father fought in World War II, said she felt compelled to come downtown and pay tribute to the younger Bacevich.

"I didn't know him," she said, "but I respect his bravery and efforts to resolve the conflict in Iraq."

Those who knew Bacevich described the Army first lieutenant as a mature, confident and dedicated young man.

Bacevich graduated from Boston University in 2003 with a major in communications. He joined the Army in 2005.

As part of his course work, Bacevich worked as a press aide and legislative aide to then-Sen. Jo Ann Sprague, R-Walpole.

"Andrew always gravitated toward public service, government and politics. For him it was a clear match to work in government. He was very interested in policy and the like," said Boston University Professor Stephen Quigley.

"He was a nice kid, very quiet," said the Rev. Culloty.

Though Culloty only saw Bacevich when he was home from college, the priest said, "I know he wanted to be a soldier very, very much."

At Boston University, Bacevich was an ROTC member until he was asked to leave because of childhood asthma. Despite the asthma, Bacevich was a marathon runner who went on to enlist in Army officer training.

"They're a very close-knit family," Culloty said of the Bacevichs. "They are people who have very deep faith, and I think that's going to be source of strength to them in the difficult days that lie ahead."

An online article from Boston University last week reported that Bacevich's father hopes to establish a memorial at the university, as well as a memorial fund.

The elder Bacevich asked that contributions be sent to the First Lieutenant Andrew John Bacevich Memorial Fund, Boston University Donor Relations, One Sherborn St., Boston, MA 02215.

Patrick Anderson contributed to this article.