Hundreds pay last respects to Coleman
Lou Marzeles
Editor
Hundreds of area residents, along with visitors from around the state and military personnel, filled the streets and Grace Brethren Church in Goldendale Saturday to pay respects to Master Sergeant Mark Coleman, killed May 2 in Afghanistan.
“We’d have come no matter the distance,” said a veteran from Spokane. “You have to honor good men.”
“We’ve been so amazed at the support of the community,” Barbie Coleman, Mark’s widow, said of the outpouring of community response. The theme was repeated by family members often during the day as they observed the depth of feeling so clearly demonstrated from the community.
Private ceremonies were held earlier in the day at the Nazarene Church and graveside at the Centerville Cemetery. The Patriot Guard, motorcyclists from many areas of the state and beyond who travel to assist with military funerals, accompanied the motorcade through the area. And everywhere were residents lining the roads. Many saluted or held their hands to their hearts as the hearse passed; a wave of hands to head or heart was visible through the crowd. The silent gestures of honor struck powerful chords in both the crowd and the family. “The family was deeply comforted by the crowds along the roads,” a military spokesman reported.
An estimated 350 people crowded the church to hear several speakers commemorate Coleman’s extraordinary life. The service began with Pastor Thomas Fender of the Nazarene Church welcoming guests. One of the men under Coleman’s charge, Staff Sgt. Isaac Reyes, said of Coleman, “He saved my life.” Reyes said Coleman was known as “Team Daddy” because of his attentive care to his men. “I can tell you how much he cared for us,” Reyes said.
Fender spoke movingly of Coleman’s love for what he did, tying Coleman’s attitude of service to Paul’s famous praise of the virtue of love in I Corinthians 13. “Paul writes ‘if I do not have love, I am nothing,’” Fender said. “Mark Coleman loved what he did.” Fender said Coleman knew without hesitation that he wanted to sign up for the Army. Fender also delivered words of comfort directly to Barbie Coleman and children Brett and Jessica.
A musical selection followed, and the service closed with videos capturing Coleman’s life in pictures and movies. The second video, prepared by Reyes, focused on Coleman’s days in service and his camaraderie with his troops.
After the service, there was a brief break, and then a dinner was served for all who wished to remain. Comments around the tables reflected the mix of locals and out-of-towners, with familiar faces juxtaposed with welcome strangers.
Goldendale Mayor Arletta Parton and City Manager Larry Bellamy were among the attendees at Mark Coleman’s funeral, and after Bellamy shared some thoughts from a city perspective.
“The outpouring of support from the community for Mark Coleman was astounding,” Bellamy says. “The family and the accompanying military personnel were quite appreciative of the reception they received in our area and especially while traveling down Simcoe Drive.”
Bellamy reports that the military and local law enforcement worked well together to ensure that all transpired smoothly and to facilitate a smooth procession. “Everyone’s contribution was very positive,” he says.
The only minor blip in all the good will, Bellamy says, was the erroneous report that the city had granted a permit to a protest group. “The city did not receive a request from any protest group and, therefore, no permit was issued,” he says. “Had they come, I believe they would have chosen to leaven due to the overwhelming support from the community and the presence of the Patriot Guard.”
Police looking for stolen vet clinic drugs
The Goldendale Police Department took a report on May 11 of a burglary that happened at Mid Columbia Vet Clinic. The burglary happened sometime during the previous evening. Numerous injectable drugs were stolen during the burglary. It was reported that the drugs can be fatal to humans if injected or ingested. Police are concerned that whoever took the drugs believes these drugs can be used by humans. These drugs are not for human consumption and again can be fatal to humans.
The police are asking anybody who has any information about this burglary or where the drugs are located to call them 773-3780.
WSP says no grace period when no- texting law goes into effect next month
The Washington State Patrol announced Friday that it will not offer a grace period when texting while driving and failure to use a hands-free device become primary traffic offenses on June 10.
It is common for the state patrol to offer an educational grace period when a new law requires drivers to change long-standing behavior.
“Drivers have already had nearly two years to adjust their driving habits,” said WSP Chief John R. Batiste. “We will fully enforce this law from day one.”
Laws prohibiting texting and requiring hands-free devices took effect in 2008, but have been considered secondary violations. Officers had to witness some other infraction in order to make a traffic stop. The new designation as primary offenses mean police can stop drivers for a texting or cell phone violation alone.
Batiste is disappointed that the laws’ previous status didn’t win more voluntary compliance. In some cases there was outright defiance.
“They would look right at our troopers with phones held to their ears,” Batiste said. “They knew that without another violation we couldn’t do anything.”
The texting and cell phone requirements are intended to save lives and reduce injuries by eliminating these two major sources of driver distraction.
Since the laws went into effect in 2008, WSP has written approximately 3,000 tickets and given about 5,900 warnings. The patrol believes the number of collisions caused by inappropriate use of mobile devices is greatly under-reported.
“Few drivers are going to admit they were on a cell phone, or texting, after a crash,” Batiste said. “We are choosing to take action before a collision occurs in hopes of preventing these needless tragedies.”
The fine for a violation is $124.
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