Knock holy water sprinkled over coffin of US Marine

Knock holy water sprinkled over coffin of US Marine


Anton McNulty

Holy water from Knock Shrine was sprinkled on the coffin of Irish-born US Marine Liam Flynn who was laid to rest with full military honours in Arlington National Cemetery in Washington DC.
US Marine Staff Sergeant Flynn, whose mother Ann was a native of Achill, died in tragic circumstances when a Black Hawk helicopter crashed into the waters off Florida during a training mission. Six fellow Marines and four National Guard soldiers from Louisiana were also killed in the accident.
Staff Sergeant Flynn’s mother Ann, nee English, was originally from the village of Meelan on Achill Island and his aunt Margaret Ryan, who lives in Meelan was among the mourners who travelled to the funeral in Washington DC last Tuesday. When the coffin was lowered, Ann Flynn sprinkled holy water from Knock into the grave.
Originally from Clane in Co Kildare, Staff Sergeant Flynn joined the Marine Corps in 2006 having moved to New York in 2002 and was assigned to the Marine Corps special operations forces.
A large number of mourners attended the Funeral of Staff Sergeant Flynn at Fort Belvoir US army base in Virginia before he was buried in Arlington National Cemetery, which is the final resting place of former US President John F Kennedy.
Before arriving at Arlington Cemetery, Virginia police shut down Interstate 95 - one of the country’s busiest highways - to allow the procession clear access to the cemetery. The decision to close the I95 is very unusual and rarely ever done.
The chief mourners were Staff Sergeant Flynn’s widow, Destiny, eleven-month-old daughter Leilani, parents, Ann and Billy, and six of his seven siblings. Also among the mourners was Major General Joseph L Osterman – commander of Marine Corps special operations forces.
Speaking at the funeral, Navy chaplain, Fr Robert Spencer, told Staff Sergeant Flynn’s family that Ireland has given up one of her sons to defend freedom.
“I am sorry that you lost your son and thank you for giving him up for the benefit of our great nations. Ireland has given up one of her sons to defend freedom and for that we are grateful. You raised a wonderful son – very courageous, very brave – and we have reaped that benefit.”
Staff Sergeant Flynn’s sister, Maria Butler described her brother as a very humble and private person who never spoke of his experiences in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan.
During the burial ceremony, an army bugler played the Last Post as six marine ‘body bearers’ slowly wrapped the American flag that covered his coffin in triangles and handed it to his wife. A second folded flag was given to his daughter, and a third to his mother.
Two badges - an Irish flag and the Marine Raiders insignia of the Marine Special Operations Command - were placed on top of the coffin.
Staff Sergeant Flynn served tours of duty in both Iraq and Afghanistan and was decorated with three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals of Valor, the Bronze Star with Valor and Combat Action Ribbon.
The circumstances of the cause of the tragedy which claimed Staff Sergeant Flynn’s life are still under investigation by the US authorities.