'Through the black smoke, a brother is lost,' comrades say

Town says goodbye to a soldier
'Through the black smoke, a brother is lost,' comrades say
Sunday, September 07, 2008
BY SHARON ADARLO
Star-Ledger Staff
Near the end of the 90-minute funeral service for Army Specialist Michael Gonzalez, his mother, Ida, walked to the altar of the Spotswood Reformed Church and held her cellphone to the microphone.

Over the crackle of a faulty connection from Baghdad, four words were clear: "I love you guys."


That was the last message the 20-year-old Spotswood soldier left for his family.

More than 300 mourners, including military personnel, town officials and Gov. Jon Corzine, packed the small church yesterday to pay final respects to Gonzalez, who died Aug. 28 from wounds caused by an improvised explosive device. The 20-year-old Army reservist had been deployed to Iraq less than two months ago.

Before the service, Gonzalez's flag-draped casket was driven down the borough's Main Street to the church. Dozens of residents, from police officers dressed in pressed blue uniforms to old high school friends, lined the route to say farewell and show their appreciation.

In a mournful herald of bagpipes and drums, Gonzalez's casket was carried into the church by two of his best friends, Rick Mattei and Jeff Freeman, and other military personnel. Escorted by her husband and younger son, Gonzalez's mother clutched a bouquet of flowers to her chest and held a photo of her son dressed in desert fatigues and waving for the camera.
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