Henderson laid to rest

Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
MILITARY HONORS — The body of Sgt. Aaron Henderson is carried by members of the A Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group, as well as Henderson’s brother Sam, during last Wednesday’s committal service in East Hodgdon.
More than 1,200 attend funeral for fallen soldier
By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — He did not have to go back. But, he felt the calling.
    Sgt. 1st Class Aaron A. Henderson of A Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), U.S. Army Ranger, Fort Campbell, Ky. was laid to rest on Oct. 10 in his hometown of East Hodgdon, adjacent to where he grew up.
    More than 1,200 people congregated to the Houlton High School Alumni Gymnasium to pay respect and tribute to a soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice for his country during Operation Enduring Freedom.
    Henderson, 33, died Oct. 2 at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit on Sept. 30 with an improvised explosive device in Zombalay Village, Afghanistan.
    For nearly two hours before the funeral, the Henderson family accepted condolences from extended family, friends, classmates, law enforcement officers, acquaintances, former veterans, current soldiers, military delegates, state and federal dignitaries to complete strangers, as well as families who have undergone the same anguishing loss.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
FIRING SALUTE — A 21 gun salute was given in memory of Sgt. 1st Class Aaron Henderson.
    All were brought together to pay a special homage to one of the brave warriors of the United States.
    “Today, and the days ahead of us, for a while, will be a time to weep and time to mourn, because to us, Aaron’s time to die seemed way too soon,” said Rev. Randall Burns of the Military Street Baptist Church in Houlton.   
    Justin Wagnon who served with Aaron’s unit since 2005 noted that he did not think he could “pull off” talking about his friend, but if he did not, many people would never know how a “backwoods guy from Maine” had a “profound impact on the life of a small town boy from Alabama.”
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
SAD SOUND — A member of the Army Honor Guard performs “Taps” at the commital service for Aaron Henderson Wednesday.
    Wagnon, as well as others, have many memories of Aaron to be cherished.
    “From the golf course to the deer stand, hovering over a grill to just the camaraderie,” said Wagnon. “It’s easy to peer through the darkness when you stand at a point of light. It’s very difficult to become lost when you have a friend sharing a light.”
    Wagnon learned that Aaron had made a decision to accept a different job with a different team in a different place. Knowing Aaron as well as he did, Wagnon knew Aaron was going to do whatever he had already decided to do and that Aaron had just brought him into the conversation to feel included.
    “He already had made the selfless and righteous decision,” said Wagnon. “Aaron was not ignorant. He knew well the danger involved. He made that decision and stepped out in faith.”
    Feeling a bit humbled and selfish, Wagnon wanted Aaron to stay stateside with him.
    “Justin, I think they need a guide,” Aaron said. “These young guys need a senior guy with experience to help them out.”
    Stepping to the podium, Jeremiah Sims, Aaron’s senior communication officer, noted that everyone sitting in the gymnasium with a military uniform was competitive. However, Aaron did it unassumingly.
    “The way he did it was awesome,” added Sims.
    One day while unloading a truck, Sims saw everyone carrying one case of water each.
    “I didn’t try to draw attention to myself, but I grabbed two cases,” recalled Sims. “Aaron saw it. When I put the two cases down, I felt pretty good about myself. When I turned around and was walking back, Aaron was coming with three cases. That went on for a little while. I won’t say who carried six and who carried seven.”
    Sims said that Aaron talked about three things from his home state: MACS Trading Post, hunting and family.
    “I knew he had a good upbringing,” he said. “You just don’t wake up and have the character of a person like Aaron.”
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
TOUCHING — A soldier touches the U.S. flag to Aaron Henderson’s casket.
    “He was one of my boys,” said Master Sgt. Marty Moore. 
    People told Moore to speak from his heart, but he quickly noted, “My heart is a little bit broken.”
    Moore recalled Aaron as an awesome American; a fantastic soldier; best friend and teammate anyone could ask for. He said you can tell a lot about parents and community the way their children behave.
    “Aaron represented each and every one of you very well,” he said.
    Since arriving on Oct. 8, Moore said, “It’s just tremendous what I witnessed through all of you, as we brought Aaron home. It was nothing short of breathtaking. The pride, the sorrow that I felt and experienced from all of you in this community will stay with me the rest of my days.”
    As a soldier, Moore recalled Aaron was second to none.
    “What Aaron accomplished during his military career is envied and adored by all,” he said. “He was one of my boys. I could never have been so proud of someone than I am of Aaron.”
    Airborne, a Ranger, Special Forces, combat diver, it was hard to describe Aaron in words. But, what Moore reflected was that by knowing Aaron he became a better person.
    “Aaron made me a better father, husband, friend, man and soldier – and I thought I was shaping his life,” he said.
    Never one to wear his heart on his sleeve, Aaron worked for the betterment of his team and country.
    “Things came naturally to Aaron,” he said. “He had natural instincts that you just can’t train people to have.”
    Burns noted that these men saw Aaron in a way that no one else could.
Soldiers stand at attention and salute for the flag folding ceremony. Henderson received a full military funeral attended by more than 1,200 people.
    “When Aaron came home, he would just be Aaron,” said Burns. “But when he got on the battlefield, he became all that God had made him to be as a leader, man who had courage and strength and power from on high in his ability to carry out [whatever the mission] he would embrace so gladly for all of us.”
    Rev. Burns met Aaron when he was 12 years old. The Burns and Henderson families shared meals, friendship and family time. Burns was able to watch Aaron’s growing up days in the church and all of his sporting activities.
    Burns was privileged to baptize Aaron in the Christian faith.
    “In our faith, you have to declare you will live your life for Jesus Christ,” said Burns. “None of us get that perfectly, necessarily. As Aaron entered those waters, his heart was to live his life for Jesus Christ. He made his profession in public.”
    Aaron was happy not to necessarily be lifted up and identified.
    “Aaron was a humble guy,” said Burns. “As he grew and gained in maturity, the U.S. Army was truly his best niche, challenging and focusing his many abilities to the limit. He loved it. He loved being challenged to the limit and rose to that occasion.”
    Burns explained that no one can gain heaven through religion, being nice or generous to even being a soldier and giving your life for your country. It is by God’s grace we are saved, not of works lest any man boast.
     “Aaron would never boast,” said Burns. “I had no idea the medals he had earned and gained. It is unbelievable. I never heard about a one of them. When he came home, he just wanted to be. He just was.”
    Burns recalled a hunting trip to South Dakota with the Henderson brothers. He explained how someone needed to flush out birds in a very tall wheat patch and rugged terrain.
    “Aaron walked down, surveyed the situation and said, ‘Let’s do this.’ He marched into the weeds, flushed out the birds he could find and walked out,” explained Burns.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
ARRANGING — Chad Duff places a wreath on the ground during Wednesday’s committal service in East Hodgdon.
    When something seems too big, Burns says he can hear Aaron’s voice in the back of his head saying, “Let’s do this.”
    “There wasn’t a challenge too tough, too great, too intimidating that Aaron didn’t believe was overcomeable, while making everyone feel they were the most valuable person in the world,” said Burns.
    To close the service, Burn’s son, McKenzie, and his group, recorded a song called “Farewell my friend,” which Burns said, “had a haunting effect on Aaron.”
    As the family feels crushed, but not defeated, Burns reminded Aaron’s mother, brother and family of the “faith being forged in you through the fire.”
    Burns and everyone who knew Aaron well remember his look as if he was scheming something mischievous and “often he was,” said Burns with a smile. He encouraged people to stay in touch with the Hendersons in their continued support, encouragement and prayers.
    Visiting with Aaron when he was home in August, Burns said. “He was completely honored and grateful that he got to be going again and had every good hope that this work on our behalf would matter. He invested his very life on our behalf.
    “Aaron lived out his life’s passion and his life’s pursuit on behalf of this nation and you and me,” added Burns. “It was his joy.”
    At the interment at East Hodgdon Cemetery, Burns read a scripture, prayed and the military tradition followed with the folding the flag and presenting it to Aaron’s mother, with a second presented to his brother and a 21-gun salute and the playing of “Taps.” After the graveside service, family and others went to a reception at Hodgdon High School.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
HOLDING ON — Chris Henderson clutches the folded American flag that was presented to her during her son’s committal service Wednesday in East Hodgdon. A touching and emotional service was held at the East Hodgdon Cemetery.