Stephen Bicknell laid to rest

PRATTVILLE -- A single ray of sunshine pierced the gloomy Prattville skies Friday afternoon, just as an honor guard of paratroopers carried Pfc. Stephen Bicknell's flag-draped coffin out of First United Methodist Church.

The golden light briefly bathed the steeple and reflected off the many puddles that had accumulated during a full day of rain.

"Look at that," one women said. "It's like God is telling us Stephen has gone home."

Bicknell, 19, died Oct. 15 in Iraq when the Humvee he was in struck a landmine. October has been the deadliest month in nearly a year for American troops.

A member of the famed 82nd Airborne Division, Bicknell was remembered at the funeral as a first-rate soldier and dedicated friend.

"Stephen was prepared to answer his call to duty," said Randy Woodham, senior pastor at First United Methodist. "He loved his country. He loved his family. As his pastor I can say he loved his church. But more importantly, he loved his Lord. He died honoring the flag. Now it's time for the flag to honor him."

Thousands of residents lined the funeral procession route, many holding American flags and most crying.

"I have never been so proud of Prattville folks in my entire life," said Casey Joiner, who was standing under the viaduct on East Main Street. A large American flag was hanging from the structure. "The way everyone turned out is amazing. You have bank presidents and roofers standing side by side. I hope this shows his family how much we appreciate what he has done for us."

Bicknell comes from a military family. His father, Frank Lueck, is a member of the Army's Special Forces. His adoptive father, Jeff Bicknell, is an Air Force tech sergeant. Stephen Bicknell had been in the Army about six months and had been in Iraq about four months. His 18-year-old widow, Miranda, is pregnant with their son. She plans on naming him Stephen Jr.

Woodham relayed the story during the funeral of when Bicknell was in high school, how he brought his mother, Linda, a rose and a cherry limeade to her beauty parlor.

"It wasn't Mother's Day or her birthday. He just gave her the rose and the limeade with the words 'I love you,'" Woodham said. "That's Easter, birthday, Christmas and Hanukkah all rolled into one when you have a son that tells you he loves you. He was a father in waiting. And Miranda, I feel he would have been more than just a father. He would have been a dad. There's a difference."

The service was attended by members of every branch of the U.S. military, along with several foreign officers. Prattville Fire Department personnel stood at attention along the procession route. An American flag hung from the basket of the department's aerial platform truck, which was raised over East Main Street. Employees of the city's sanitation department stood together, hands over their hearts.

"This is strong right here, this kind of reception," said Mayor Jim Byard. "If anybody ever thinks Americans don't love their military men and women, you just bring them to Prattville. This gives me chills the way my hometown has turned out."

An anti-gay religious group that has protested at soldier's funerals in the past sent out a press release that they would be in Prattville on Friday. The Prattville Police Department escorted the procession and had extra security measures in place. No protestors were reported.

That's a good thing, said Adam Harris, who was standing at the intersection of Memorial Drive and Fairview Avenue as the procession went past.

"I figured they wouldn't show up. Nobody's that stupid," he said. "Protest a soldier's funeral in Prattville, Alabama? No, sir, that wasn't going to happen. All the police would have to do is sweep up the pieces after we got through with them."

Bicknell likely would have been embarrassed by all the attention paid to him, said Sam Palomaria, who had served as an adviser to Bicknell's youth group at church.

"When I first met Stephen, I saw a confident, brash young man who was the life of the party," Palomaria said during the funeral. "After I got to know him better, he was the same confident, brash young man who was the life of the party. I think he would be humbled and appreciative today, and he would wonder what all the fuss was over."

He had a way of bringing people together, friends said. Bicknell was a 2005 graduate of Prattville High School and a standout on the gridiron. He was a quarterback for the Lions and played in the 2004 state championship against Hoover.

During visitation services at the high school gym Thursday, a bus pulled up full of Sidney Lanier High School football players. Head football coach L.C. Cole and two assistants led their team in. Last season Prattville and Lanier players were involved in a brawl during a game. The altercation garnered plenty of press attention. Cole wasn't head coach then.

"Those Lanier players were dressed in their warm-ups," said Connie Jackson, who was at the visitation. "They spoke with the family and gave Miranda a football signed by all their players. Before leaving they kneeled at the casket and had a prayer. Only Stephen could pull something like this off. Stephen and L.C. Cole. You tell Coach Cole from a Prattville Lions fan that he and his players showed a lot of class Thursday."

From the Montgomery Advertiser

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