New Haven Independent: City Soldier Laid To Rest

City Soldier Laid To Rest

by Melissa Bailey | July 6, 2007 2:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)

Andre%20Craig%2C%20Jr.0001.jpg Army Specialist Andre Craig, Jr., whose life was cut short by an explosive device in Baghdad, was remembered Friday as a father, husband and an “inspiration.” His funeral sent ripples through the city and Dwight neighborhood, where many have family and friends serving abroad.

Craig, the first New Haven soldier to be killed in combat in the Iraq War, died on June 25, just after his 24th birthday. He had returned to Baghdad after a 13-day visit home, in which he met his only daughter, Taylor, for the first time. He had just married his wife, Shawntia Ventura Craig, before leaving for Iraq. (Click here and scroll down for his obituary).

The funeral Friday drew hundreds of Hill neighbors, military supporters, politicians and passersby to the Immanuel Baptist Church on Chapel Street in the Dwight neighborhood.

Janice Cash (pictured at right, with her husband, Clayton Cash) watched Craig, who went by the nickname “Dre,” grow up on Rosette Street in the Hill. “I always had my eye on him,” from when he first started playing basketball in the neighborhood to the time Craig shipped off to Iraq in March 2007 as a light infantryman.

“He was a hero. I always admired him,” said Cash. “While others were off doing their own thing” — selling drugs, or getting into trouble — “He was making a career for himself. He should be an inspiration to the others.”

Paying their respects at the service inside the church were Gov. Rell, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, Alderman Yusuf I. Shah (president pro tempore of the Board of Aldermen, filling in as mayor for the week), and a handful of state and local politicians. The message, according to friend of the family Gloria Franklin, was “inspiration.” “He was a positive role model. He was the first hero for New Haven.”

John Scanlon (pictured at right) was one of 100 members of the Patriot Guard Riders, motorcycle enthusiasts who rode in from as far away as Maine and New Jersey to hold flags in front of the church for Craig’s funeral. Scanlon, a Vietnam vet, has attended every funeral in the state for fallen soldiers in Iraq. “It’s gut-wrenching — it’s a hard thing,” he said, to see so many pass away.

A total 3,589 Americans have died so far in the Iraq War, according to government figures.

Later, Scanlon would hop on his motorcycle and escort the family to the burial at the Connecticut Veterans Cemetery in Middletown. Craig was offered a place in the Arlington Cemetery, but his family chose to bury him closer to home.

Gov. Rell ordered Friday a day of mourning for the state, with flags at half-mast until sundown. “PFC Craig will always be remembered for having given his life to preserve freedom and offer the benefits of democracy to the world,” said the governor in a statement Friday. “His acts of courage reflected the highest standards of a hero.”

As the service went on inside the cement church at 1324 Chapel St., Dwight area neighbors stopped by to pay their respects. Angel CalderÃ³n (pictured), who lives nearby, leaned against a tree and watched the scene.

“I wish it would end already,” said CalderÃ³n in Spanish of the war. “Look,” he said, pointing to the church. “Kids are dying here.”

Carmen GalÃ¡n stood in a nearby doorway with her grandson as mourners filed past the sidewalk. “Twenty-four is too young. Too young!” said GalÃ¡n, whose niece served a turn in Iraq. “I’m a grandmother and a mother— I feel like it happened to me, too. It’s terrible.”

Comments

Posted by: TDinnean | July 6, 2007 3:57 PM

You post this story, which is, I assume in respect to the fallen. Then have the nerve to treat the US flag as compost and tell people to stop flying them. Shame on you. That flag represents all US citizens, regardless of their views for or against t he war, or illegal immigration.

Posted by: THREEFIFTHS | July 6, 2007 3:59 PM

I Feel For This Man Family And May God Help Them
Every Day, But I Blame The Warprofiteers And Sellout Politicians Who Had The Chance To Stop The Funding Of This Illegal War And Caved In To King Bush!!! How May More Must We Lose To The Warprofiteers And Puppet Politicans who Take There Money.Last All Of The People And Politicians
Who Supported The War Lord Joe Lieberman The Blood
Of These Solders Are On You Hands As Well.

Posted by: FairHavenRes | July 6, 2007 5:02 PM

May Army Spec. Andre Craig, Jr Rest in Peace. My sympathies to his wife, child, parents, family and friends.
***********************************************
Paul, I must echo the comments of TDinnean. This is not the first time that you treated the flag with such disrespect. I am offended as well. Pulling the US flag out of your "compost" heap is not the least bit cheeky.

Symbols are important. They are not empty. They mean something. Respect the US flag. Respect any flag.

Posted by: Ned | July 7, 2007 9:25 AM

At which resort are the Bush twins vacationing this summer?
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=nation_world&id=4800480

Posted by: Cap Coleman | July 7, 2007 9:47 AM

Folks, have some respect and do not exploit the occasion in order to Bush-bash or get on the soapbox about your military political views. This young man was a hero. Honor him. His parents, his wife, and other family and friends are grieving the loss of a fine young man who represented the best among us. We must honor them as well. Do not diminish this man or his family, by denigrating his mission. Instead of taking to the keyboard, take to your checkbook and contribute to a college fund for the hero's child.

Posted by: KAM B | July 7, 2007 9:38 PM

Godd bless the Graig Family. My prayers are with you.

Posted by: nfjanette | July 9, 2007 9:57 AM

I found Paul's video statement confusing. Why does he believe that residents displaying the country's flag is inappropriate? I can understand different positions on the matter, but I don't understand exactly what is driving Paul's position. Is it a question of whether state or national symbols should be flown/displayed by private residents? The issue I have with private citizens displaying flags is that the flags are sometimes torn, dirty, or flown improperly. I'd rather leave it to the "pros" in those cases.

Posted by: Paul Bass | July 9, 2007 10:25 AM

My concern is with overkill. I think displaying a flag for 4th of July is fine. In the name of jingoism, people overdo it, I think -- bigger and bigger flags, more and more of them, to the point at which the flag becomes more important than the idea, and it is used to silence dissent and intimidate people who don't support military solutions to every problem. It becomes dangerous, IMHO, to make symbols more important than people or ideas or freedom itself. That said, I like Nathan's solution. Also, while I think it's healthy for society to question excessive patriotism and flag-waving, I disagree with flag-burning because it causes pain for people who've fought in wars or lost loved ones in wars.

Posted by: FairHavenRes | July 9, 2007 11:18 PM

Paul, symbols are important because of the meaning they carry. The American Flag is an important symbol.

I think it was disrespectful to have it in your compost pile.

Write your opinions, make your case about the flag, but leave it out of your prop box.

This is from a liberal democrat.

Posted by: Ned | July 10, 2007 8:39 AM

Funny how people don't run around waving the Declaration of Independence or the Bill of Rights (contained withing the Constitution), which sets this country apart from all others and which the military and politicians are sworn to defend and uphold - not the flag. Also the pledge of allegiance was written by a Socialist, apparently to brainwash children into being servants of the state. It's still a sort of free country, and a symbol is just a symbol, whereas freedom (to be offensive or not) is an actual state of being...

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City Soldier Laid To Rest

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