THE CANADIAN PRESS
BIG RIVER FIRST NATION, Sask. - More than 500 people attended a full military funeral Tuesday for Sgt. Darby Morin, who once told his wife, Veronica, that if she ever had to bury him, no matter what, he wanted his funeral to have military honours.
He got exactly that on a bright and warm day at the Big River First Nation - where he'd grown up - in front of an impressive collection of Canadian and U.S. army personnel.
"This is what Darby would have wanted," his widow said while fighting back tears. "He loved his job so much."
Morin, a 25-year-old United States Army nuclear, biological and chemical non-commissioned officer, died Aug. 22 when the driver of the vehicle he was riding in lost control, causing a rollover near Afghanistan's border with Pakistan.
Speakers at his emotional funeral painted him as a brave role model and a devoted father.
"He is a warrior at heart," said U.S. Army Maj.-Gen. Patricia Horoho.
She told Veronica that the American military would never forget Morin and that the band of brothers he made while serving would carry on his legacy.
"Darby embodied loyalty," she said.
Morin's endearing personality was on display when his immediate superior, 1st Sgt. John Roome, spoke.
He said that to him, Morin became more than just a soldier - he became his "right-hand-man."
Morin, who had a love for playing barber, often confided in Roome when the clippers came out.
"As I was sitting in his chair getting a haircut, it was just like a barber talking to a customer. I would be able to talk to him about my family and he would definitely talk about his family," Roome said.
Morin had two sons, Christian, 3, and Blue Sky, 19 months.
Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall said that Morin was a hero.
"You know we throw the word hero around perhaps too easily in this day," he said. "We use the reference to people who play sports and perhaps we should find a different word for that because today we will celebrate the life of a true hero."
Lawrence Joseph, chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, also praised Morin for his heroism.
"I am extremely, extremely proud for a young man who literally brought nations together," he said.
He noted that when Morin was 11, he decided his calling was to be a soldier.
Fascinated with American military technology, Morin decided to join the U.S. Army after graduating from high school.
He served in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Morin's uncle, FSIN Vice-Chief Lyle Whitefish, read his eulogy and promised the Big River First Nation would soon pick an annual day to celebrate Morin's life.
