ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, April 11, 1996 TAG: 9604110064
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-5 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
SOURCE: Associated Press
Ron Brown was laid to rest Wednesday after President Clinton celebrated his ``truly American life'' in a funeral that reflected the commerce secretary's upbeat style. ``He would have loved this deal today,'' the president said.
The funeral produced an outpouring of respect unusual even in pomp-loving Washington. High-ranking bureaucrats and government clerks shared pews in the stately National Cathedral, crowded to capacity. Thousands filed by his coffin overnight in the Commerce Department lobby.
``Ron Brown's incredible life force brought us all joy in the morning,'' the president said. ``No dark night could ever defeat him. ... This man loved life and all the things in it.''
Brown, the first black commerce secretary, was killed along with 34 others a week ago in a plane crash while on a trade mission to Croatia. His son, Michael, began by thanking the Croatians who climbed the hillside to bring down the bodies.
The son smiled during his tribute to a father so close that they still kissed on the lips until last week. He brought on laughter when he told of hearing him described as smooth as a swan, and graceful under pressure.
``And then I said, `Wait a minute, these people have never played golf with him before,''' Michael said. ``He has problems with about 21/2-foot putts, and grace under pressure I would not call that.''
After the service, Brown's hearse wound through the streets of the historic black Shaw neighborhood, past the Commerce Department and across the Potomac River to Arlington National Cemetery.
There, Clinton took the flag folded by Brown's military pallbearers and presented it to Brown's widow, Alma. Although the day was sunny and bright, the flag-draped coffin had a plastic cover, too, because a few snow flurries were falling.
The 54-year-old Brown qualified for interment in the cemetery of heroes because he was a Cabinet official who had an honorable military background. He served in the Army from 1963-67, including tours in Germany and Korea, and attained the rank of captain.
``Ron Brown enjoyed a lot of success,'' the president said. ``He proved you could do well and do good and have a good time. ... He lived his life for America, and when the time came, he was found laying down his life for America.''
As chairman of the Democratic National Committee in 1992, Brown was a sparkplug in Clinton's campaign for the presidency.
``I want to say to my friend, just one last time, thank you,'' Clinton said, glancing down at the coffin, ``If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be here.''
He recalled a time in Los Angeles when they came upon children playing basketball.
``They asked me if we'd like to play,'' Clinton recalled. ``So we divided up sides; he took a few kids, I took a few kids. All of a sudden he forgot who was president and how he got his day job.''
Brown was known for his dapper attire.
``I'm telling you, folks, he would have loved this deal today,'' Clinton said. ``As I look around, I see that all of us are dressed almost as well as he would be today.'' The comment brought a ripple of laughter.
Among the mourners were O.J. Simpson lawyer Johnnie Cochran Jr., singer Stevie Wonder, retired Gen. Colin Powell and former New York Mayor David Dinkins. Supreme Court Justices Stephen G. Breyer and Anthony M. Kennedy, who knew Brown, were among those attending as well, along with Cabinet members and members of Congress.
LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. President, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton join Traceyby CNBBrown, daughter of Ron Brown, and family friend Howie Davis at
Washington's National Cathedral on Wednesday.