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Maria Kelly leaves the funeral yesterday of her husband, Col. Paul Kelly, with son - |
By JENN ROWELL
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."
Patrick Kelly read those words from 2 Timothy 4:7 at his brother's funeral yesterday.
More than 1,000 people, including members of each branch of the armed services, attended the service for Army Col. Paul M. Kelly at St. William of York Catholic Church in Stafford.
Kelly's 9-year-old son, Paul David, wore a leather bomber jacket as he brought communion to the altar during the service with his 5-year old brother, J.J.
The 45-year-old helicopter pilot was killed Jan. 20 in Iraq when the Blackhawk helicopter he was traveling in crashed outside Baghdad. He was not piloting the aircraft. Eleven other soldiers were also killed in the crash, including Staff Sgt. Darryl D. Booker of Midlothian.
In Iraq, Kelly was attached to the Joint Force Headquarters of the Virginia National Guard.
Kelly deployed in August and was due home in March.
Prior to the deployment, Kelly had worked in Arlington as chief of the Aviation and Safety Division at the National Guard Bureau.
Kelly lived in Virginia for nearly 15 years at various posts and met his wife, Maria, while in the area.
She is a former Air Force nurse and volunteers at the parish school as a teacher's aid and nurse.
The couple would have celebrated their 10th anniversary in July.
Kelly will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery today.
JENN ROWELL: 540/374-5418| Letter to Kelly, printed in the funeral program:
Dear Dad,
I love you. I want to wrestle with you when its night time. Love, J.J. |
| Letter to Kelly, printed in the funeral program:
Dear Dad,
I Just wanted to tell you I miss you a lot I was looking forward to Play foot Ball with you. You're my Best friend and the Best Dad ever We miss you. Love, Paul your son. |
