Q-C soldier laid to rest

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| Saturday, May 8, 2004 9:58 PM CDT | () comments

Jennifer DeWitt

PORT BYRON, Ill. � This was the day when all of Landis Garrison's families � those he had left behind in Rapids City and those whom he will forever share one brotherhood or another � came together in sorrow, pride and awe.

As several hundred family members, friends and even strangers gathered Saturday morning for the funeral of 23-year-old Sgt. Garrison, this also was a day when the American spirit would shine brightly. It was there in the sea of uniformed soldiers, firefighters and police officers who filled nearly half of the bleachers inside the darkened gymnasium of Riverdale High School. And it was there in the patriotic-themed clothing donned by many mourners as well as in the giant flag hung high between two ladder fire trucks that formed a gateway with their ladders extended.

When Garrison died April 29 from an accidental gun discharge in Iraq, he was assigned with the Army National Guard Unit, 333rd Military Police Co., based in Freeport, Ill. But back home he also was a volunteer firefighter with the Port Byron Fire Department and was completing training to become a police officer with the Hampton Police Department.

"This was a guy who was a hero three times � a firefighter, a police officer and a soldier, with a cowboy hat and pick-up truck to boot," said Brigadier General Randel Thomas, who addressed those in the crowded gymnasium.

"As a freedom-loving nation, there are tyrants who will threaten our safety," he said, adding that the reality is that we do � and always will � rely on young men and women to protect those freedoms "despite the dangers."

For his heroism, Garrison was awarded the Bronze Star medal posthumously, Army officials announced during the funeral.

The hour-long service was a mixture of military traditions and firefighter traditions with the bagpipes that were played during the processional and recessional. But the emotion-filled service also was a display of the caring and concern still found in a small town America.

The pride of those groups gathered at different locations along the procession route was clear as they held flags and homemade signs, saluted or placed their hand to their heart as scores of fire trucks, police cars, emergency vehicles, military Humvees passed by. It was a show of respect repeated over and over as the procession winded nearly 30 miles through Rock Island and Henry counties until it reached the Coal Valley Cemetery, where Garrison was buried.

It was a hero sendoff for a young man who was known by his friends � new and old � for his can-do attitude, fun-loving spirit, mechanical abilities and especially his Wrangler jeans, giant belt buckles, cowboy hat and boots and pickup truck. In his honor, several mourners were clad in new-looking Wranglers, western shifts and cowboy hats. At the Port Byron Fire Department, a unique flower arrangement was fashioned out of a pair of stuffed blue jeans and cowboy boots that appeared as if they were leaning back.

During the service, Illinois Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn, who offered condolences on behalf of "all the citizens of Illinois," told the crowd that "In his 23 years, Landis Garrison offered more service with his neighbors than many of us can aspire to in our whole lives. He was a young man dedicated to service." Garrison was "serving honorably in Iraq and in one of the most dangerous places on earth," Quinn said.

The son of Randy and Leah Garrison, Garrison's life of service began at a young age with the Boy Scouts and then the East Moline Police Explorer Scouts, with whom he achieved the rank of captain. He joined the National Guard in 1998 while still in high school.

"He was a person who didn't let much grass grow under his feet," said Rev. Kathy Remley of First Baptist Church, Cordova, who presided over the ceremony. She said his fellow firefighters had described him as one who loved horseplay and dancing and "could liven the spirits of everybody." Creative and a problem-solver, "there wasn't much Landis couldn't do," she said.

He also loved to drive and repair trucks and heavy equipment. He planned to be involved in the family business, Quality Repair Inc., Quality Snow Removal and Quality Trucking Inc., all in Colona, when he returned from Iraq. "His dream job was to test drive cotton-pickers for Case," she said.

Reading from a letter sent to his parents after his death, Remley said the commander of the 333rd wrote that Garrison "was one of the best soldiers I have ever worked with. He was always the one I could count on to complete the mission."

With his mechanical skills, Garrison often was under the hood of some piece of equipment helping out the maintenance crew so the mission could continue. The commander praised the Garrisons for the job they did in raising him, adding "The Army and the mission owe you a great debt and gratitude."

But he also said his death "was a costly way to learn a valuable lesson: we cannot lose focus not even for a second." Garrison was killed when a weapon accidentally discharged as he was repairing it.

Also calling it a senseless death, Remley acknowledged that it "leaves us all asking why � why did this have to happen when Landis' whole life lie before him?"

With the freedom of choices, she said "God created certain laws � because of that there are all kinds of dangers. Why what happened, happened, we may never know � but one day we'll see Landis again."

Jennifer DeWitt can be contacted at (563) 383-2318 or jdewitt@qctimes.com.