WTNH News Channel 8 / News / 1999

	Thousands Fill Cemetery For Aselton's Burial (South Windsor-WTNH) _ From St Margaret Mary church the largest funeral procession ever assembled in South Windsor proceeded to the cemetery. It's a little over two miles through the town to the Wapping Cemetery on the hill off Oakland Avenue. News Channel 8's Mark Davis reports. It took over an hour for the body of the slain police officer to arrive at Wapping Cemetery under it's huge police escort. At one point the funeral cortege stretched the entire two miles from the church. The assembly of uniformed officers and civilians at the gravesite spread out over about four acres. Patrolman Connie Nadeau, Springfield, MA P.D.: "Nobody knew Brian but we all know what Brian represents and why he became a police officer. We may not have met him but we all knew him well." Mark: "Ever seen one this big?" Patrolman Bob Coppage, Rockland, MA P.D. "Uh, not this big, not for a long time. It was a good turnout." Lt. Mark Coleman, CT State Police: "We've been to them all too often, the weather pretty much befits the occasion." When the graveside service was over, the exodus of uniforms created a sea of blue that was another truly overpowering image of the show of solidarity that is like no other profession. Patrolman Chris Ferace, Norwich P.D.: "The showing of law enforcement personnel was just overwhelming and the day as a whole, from the weather to the funeral was extremely somber." It was a spectacle that his family and these communities are not likely to ever forget. For East Hartford - a farewell to a public servant. For South Windsor - a farewell to a native son. After the service East Hartford mayor Tim Larson told me he is appointing a special commission to establish a suitable permanent memorial to officer Brian Aselton. Today's News Page. WTNH Home Page. ©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT A LIN station.

Thousands Fill Cemetery For Aselton's Burial
(South Windsor-WTNH) _ From St Margaret Mary church the largest funeral procession ever assembled in South Windsor proceeded to the cemetery. It's a little over two miles through the town to the Wapping Cemetery on the hill off Oakland Avenue.
News Channel 8's Mark Davis reports.

Procession of officers. It took over an hour for the body of the slain police officer to arrive at Wapping Cemetery under it's huge police escort. At one point the funeral cortege stretched the entire two miles from the church. The assembly of uniformed officers and civilians at the gravesite spread out over about four acres.

Patrolman Connie Nadeau, Springfield, MA P.D.: "Nobody knew Brian but we all know what Brian represents and why he became a police officer. We may not have met him but we all knew him well."

Mark: "Ever seen one this big?"
Patrolman Bob Coppage, Rockland, MA P.D. "Uh, not this big, not for a long time. It was a good turnout."

Graveside funeral Lt. Mark Coleman, CT State Police: "We've been to them all too often, the weather pretty much befits the occasion."

When the graveside service was over, the exodus of uniforms created a sea of blue that was another truly overpowering image of the show of solidarity that is like no other profession.

Patrolman Chris Ferace, Norwich P.D.: "The showing of law enforcement personnel was just overwhelming and the day as a whole, from the weather to the funeral was extremely somber."

Flower covered grave It was a spectacle that his family and these communities are not likely to ever forget. For East Hartford - a farewell to a public servant. For South Windsor - a farewell to a native son.

After the service East Hartford mayor Tim Larson told me he is appointing a special commission to establish a suitable permanent memorial to officer Brian Aselton.

Today's News Page.

WTNH Home Page.