Funeral For Petty Officer Denis Miranda

By Grace Cangemi

If you saw the group that formed an honor guard outside the Anderson and Campbell Funeral Home in a bar, you might think it was a tough place. Today, the tough place was on Main Street in Toms River as Petty Officer 3^rd Class Denis Miranda was laid to rest.

The honor guard was made up of about sixty bikers, all of them riding today for the Patriot Guard. They flanked the driveway of the funeral home and held a flag line there and at the cemetery. They came to show respect for a young man who made the ultimate sacrifice and a family mourning an unimaginably tragic loss.

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Dressed mostly in jeans and leather vests, the riders assembled at American Legion Post 129 at eight a.m. and awaited a Toms River Police escort that met up with members of the Dover police, State Police and several fire companies. Most rode motorcycles, while about a dozen rode in trucks and SUVs.

As the service was held inside the funeral home, I spoke to Rich Baumann of the Patriot Guard. Members of several organizations were represented by riders this morning. Rolling Thunder, American Legion Riders Posts 129 and 348, and the Blue Knights all joined together to honor a fallen soldier.

“Today everyone rides with the Patriot Guard,” he said, explaining that on “these missions” the Patriot Guard includes all the riders. “It’s the brotherhood of what we do.”

This was Rich’s 90^th funeral and he is a Senior Ride Captain, coordinating the honor guard, flag lines, and escort. At times in the past, they have had to deal with what Rich calls “uninvited guests.” While that was thankfully not the case today, Rich explained that when such folks do show up, the Patriot Guard creates a flag line between these people and the family so that the family doesn’t see or hear them.

“If you have a problem with the politics,” he says “go stand in front of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Leave the families alone.”

Joe Ryan of the Legion Riders Post 348 in Brick has been involved in veteran’s causes for nearly as long as he can remember. His daughter’s have both served. His eldest completed four years in the Navy and his youngest is in her eighth year in the Air Force. Like many other riders, Joe took the day off.

He rides as many of these as he can. “Some things,” he said “are more important than money.”

Robert Bianchini of Toms River also has a passion for helping troops. He was at a wedding and met some servicemen. Thinking that they might enjoy a weekend at the beach, he opened his home to them for a getaway. Since then, he continues to host veterans and servicepeople who are referred to him. A veteran himself, Robert said that it’s important to remember that as long as even one serviceman is deployed, we still have people in harm’s way.

About twenty people stood across the street from the funeral home, some with flags, all there to honor a fallen warrior. Elaine Horan and her sister didn’t know that Miranda family, but had seen the procession pass the house when Denis Miranda was escorted from McGuire Air Force Base and read about the young man in the paper. They stood holding small flags.

Elaine said,” We live locally and thought we should come to honor him and his family who made the ultimate sacrifice.”

As the Miranda family waited outside the funeral home, Denis Miranda’s flag draped casket was placed in the hearse by his SEAL teammates. The procession, once again lead by state police and the Patriot Guard, would drive past Denis Miranda’s home, his high school, and his YMCA, finally arriving at the interment at Ocean County Memorial Park.

Capt. Tim Szymanski, commodore of Naval Special Warfare Group Two spoke about Denis Miranda.

“Miranda was a man who touched the lives of so many of us … a man who willingly made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve the freedom and liberty of his fellow citizens … and a man who lived his life for the cause greater than himself.”

After these remarks, the flag draping Miranda’s casket was folded and presented to his mother. Following the flag presentation, Navy SEALs from across the country lined up and one-by-one, removed the Tridents from the left chest of their uniforms and pounded them into Miranda’s coffin.

One cannot help but be humbled by the service this young man offered us and by the sacrifice made by his loved ones. Those who took time off work and came to honor him know that by comparison, what they do is small, but they know it’s important too.

The next time you think “I support our troops,” think about how you can truly put forth a helping hand. And think about the Miranda family – a mother, a father and two younger brothers who buried a precious young man who was an accomplished Navy SEAL when he was killed at the age of 24. And say a prayer for Petty Officer Denis Miranda and all of those like him who stand ready to sacrifice their lives for us.