Andrew Daul laid to rest

Army Spc. Andrew Daul, 21, received a hero's send-off at his funeral service Friday at Shepherd of the Lakes Lutheran Church in Brighton Township.

A 50-foot flag draped between two ladder trucks greeted those who came to say good-bye to the 2003 Brighton High School graduate who died Dec. 19 in Iraq when an improvised explosive device went off near his tank. More than 100 members of the Patriot Guard riders stood silently outside, holding flags, and created a gauntlet leading up to the church. Numerous military personnel attended the service, which drew more than 200 people.

While recognizing the outpouring of support, the Rev. Frank Graves spoke of the bonds that never die — a mother's love for her son, and Jesus' love for us.

"The man serving this country is still your baby boy," Graves said, looking at Kathy Daul of Brighton Township, the soldier's mother, sitting in the front row with her family.

"There is no love like a mother's love," Graves said.

"You say you will miss most cuddling your son," he said.

Graves then spoke to the family members about what they told him they would miss about Andrew Daul, who was a bodybuilder and so was very muscular. He said Michael Daul, the soldier's father, would miss his son's sense of humor, and younger sister, Lindsey, would miss the brother-sister talks. He said the youngest child, Audrey, would miss the "tickle torture."

Graves said it's amazing how quickly life passes, and how the parents remembered their son's birth like it was yesterday.

"You didn't see any headache," he said.

Andrew Daul was known as the "feisty kid in the neighborhood," according to Graves. He said the soldier was a little reckless and a bit of daredevil, but "in a good way." Before the parents realized it, their son was moving from his first car into his first tank.

Lindsey Daul thanked the community for all its support before talking about her older brother.

"He was the best big brother we could have asked for," said Lindsey Daul, a 2004 Brighton High School graduate.

Although she didn't see him as much during the last three years while he served in the U.S. Army, she thought of him often.

"Absence makes the heart grow fonder," she said.

She also mentioned her older brother's reckless streak, which included a wrecked car and caused some stress in her parents' life.

Graves also thanked the community for reaching out to the Daul family with food, hugs, letter and e-mails. Firefighters from the Brighton Area Fire Department and Howell Fire Department showed their support by draping a 50-foot-long American flag from two ladder trucks in front of the church, and then displaying the flag across Grand River Avenue as the casket procession went by.

"You are loved and not alone," he said.

He then raised an interesting question about all the community's support.

"What would it be like if we put this much love and energy into each day?" Graves asked.

"We'd have no war," he said.

Graves also shared with the crowd that Andrew Daul's death was part of several tragedies for the family, and how it must be testing their faith. He said the Dauls had experienced the loss of several family members and learned that Kathy Daul has cancer.

"Just keep your eyes on Jesus," he told the family. Life serves up struggles and hardships, he said,and he recognized the family's hearts must be broken at this time at the loss of their son.

"Even when all life fails, Jesus never does," Graves said. "So keep your eyes on him."

A silent slide show created by the soldier's best friend captured him as a teenager riding his go-kart, looking over a wrecked car and proudly wearing his military uniform while serving in Iraq.

Andrew Daul enlisted in the Army immediately after high school. After completing training as a crewman on the Abrams tank, he was assigned to an armored division in Germany.

During his first tour of Iraq, Daul saw action in Baghdad and Karbala. He began serving his second tour in Iraq earlier this year. After completing his military service, he was looking forward to working at his father's firm, buying a home and pursuing his interest in bodybuilding.

U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton, told the audience it was an honor to stand there and pay his respects to a "patriot."

Not only did he help his fellow soldiers, but Rogers said Andrew Daul helped Iraqis while serving in that country. Because of soldiers like him, Rogers said, Iraqis would talk about the greatness of the U.S. soldier, and he read a letter from a mayor of an Iraqi town liberated by U.S. soldiers.

"Their sacrifice was not in vain," Rogers read aloud from the mayor's letter. "Let the world be proud of their sacrifice for humanity."

In his final words, Rogers said, "I stand today to offer a nation's thank you for a great soldier."

Brig. Gen. John R. Bartley said everyone in uniform shares in the family's sorrow. He read letters from fellow soldiers who praised Andrew Daul as a great soldier. He then presented the family with the the soldier's Combat Action badge, Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

Lawrence Marinelli of South Lyon joined the Patriot Guard riders who stood outside with U.S. flags.

"It's just support for a fallen soldier," said Marinelli, a veteran and member of Rolling Thunder, a group that supports veterans and prisoners of war.

Jim Kehres of Monroe said the Patriot Guard doesn't show up unless requested by the family.

Kehres said he showed up to honor a soldier.

"He stood for us, we'll stand for him," Kehres said.

Lindsey Daul said her brother lived a full life.

"I think he lived every day as if it was the last," she said.

She said her brother was a hero and proud of his mission and what he was doing in Iraq. As she looked upon his flag-draped casket, she said her final words to him.

"He's home today," she said.

From the Daily Press

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