Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 22, 1995 TAG: 9502220086
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KATHLEEN WILSON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
It is said that there are two lasting bequests that parents can give a child. One is roots.
The other, wings.
At Parkway Wesleyan Church in Roanoke on Tuesday afternoon, more than 500 mourners wrestled with why a higher power intervened and chose to give Andrew Braford his wings at the tiny age of 4.
Andrew died in his grandmother's arms Saturday after losing his painful six-month battle with acute myelogenous leukemia.
``We ask where has God been for the last six months? Where was God when that little boy was suffering all this time in a hospital bed? I think I know,'' offered John W. Ott, pastor. ``He was standing right at the same spot when his own son was on the cross. And I think he felt Saturday night what he felt on that Good Friday when he heard his own son call to him.''
From the fleet of some 50 police cars outside the church that led the 200-car procession to the cemetery, to the presence of almost the entire Roanoke County police force inside the church, the scene had every appearance of a funeral for an officer lost in the line of duty.
But the law enforcement community had turned out to support Andrew's family, Lori and Dick Braford. He is a Roanoke County police officer.
Wasn't it unusual for virtually the entire police force to attend the funeral of a colleague's family member?
``I really don't know,'' admitted officer Dale Clark. ``Nothing like this has ever really happened before.''
For six months the police force has toiled tirelessly to help the family. Pitching in to mow the lawn. Watching the Brafords' other two children while Andrew was treated in hospitals at the University of Virginia and Duke University.
They also mounted a fund-raising campaign to assist the Brafords in paying Andrew's enormous medical bills.
Chances are if you traveled Virginia 419 on any Saturday last summer, you saw Andrew's face on gigantic signs the volunteers used to flag down cars for car washes. If you were stopped at a red light, one of these officers probably managed to get you to roll your window down long enough to tell you a child was dying and needed your help.
Many of you tossed in everything from handfuls of change to crumpled tens and twenties.
Others stopped to get your cars washed. Even in the rain.
At the Uni-Mart on Thompson Memorial Road in Salem, right across the street from the Roanoke County Police Department, manager Mary Ann Carbaugh regularly tossed the ``take a penny'' money into the Andrew Braford can.
On Monday morning, the can was gone and Carbaugh was breaking the news to regular customers that the little boy had passed away.
Because of her work schedule, she was one of the few who were unable to attend the funeral service.
In addition to the police force, the service was attended by Roanoke County Administrator Elmer Hodge, nurses from area hospitals, and one of Andrew's pediatricians. State police covered for county officers during the funeral; some later came to the cemetery.
``I have never seen a group of people minister as effectively as you have,'' Ott said.
Ott admitted there had been some concern they wouldn't be able to round up enough people for a weekday afternoon service.
But Ott called the choir of 30 one of the largest to turn out in recent memory.
Tammy Riggs, children's pastor, gave thanks for the yesterdays they'd all shared with Andrew.
``And thank you for today that Andrew is with you in perfect body, sitting in your lap with your arms wrapped around him, and that your arms are now reaching down to touch us and help us heal as you have now healed Andrew.''
Choir members and uniformed patrolmen alike wiped away tears during the hour-long service. Dick Braford's face was streaked with tears as he clung to his 10-year-old daughter, Rachel.
Ott sought a reason for Andrew's death. In the end, he could come up with none.
``It is against God's nature for a little boy to suffer in such pain for six months,'' he said. ``I can't imagine he intended for this to happen. Is God in control? I know I just have to figure that out. Did he allow this to happen? And if he didn't allow this to happen, doesn't that make leukemia bigger than God?''
After the group softly sang ``Amazing Grace,'' Andrew's grandfather, Jack Welch, was the first to smile when he concluded with words of his own.
``God, we've argued and disagreed with you about this for a long time. Now it's time to accept your glory,'' he said. ``I know I'm going to shed some tears down here. I sure am going to miss that little rascal. But I know one day that trumpet is going to blow. And when it does, I just know it will be Andrew who will be blowing it.''
by CNB