More than 500 mourners attended the funeral in Stamullen, Co Meath, yesterday of Sgt Patrick Mooney. In a poignant and moving homily, the Air Corps chaplain, Father Brendan Madden, referred to Sgt Mooney's work with the Search and Rescue Support Unit.
He said: "Many children have fathers and many fathers have children because of Patrick".
The village was a sea of green and blue as his colleagues in the Defence Forces came to pay their last respects.
The small church of St Patrick was far too small to hold the crowd, and many stood in silence in the car-park outside.
Sgt Mooney's 10-year-old daughter, Aisling, read a prayer she wrote herself and said she would never forget him.
Father Madden said his widow believed that one day he would reach down and lift her up to join him in heaven.
The flying jacket he wore on each of his search-and-rescue operations was brought up during the Offertory procession, along with his green Irish Rangers Unit beret, his UN beret and two GAA jerseys from the local St Patrick's and Balscadden Blues clubs.
His brother, Joe, told the congregation that Balscadden Blues club, as a mark of respect, was retiring the No 6 jersey which Patrick had worn.
Mourners included the President, Mrs McAleese, the Minister for Defence, Mr Smith, and the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, Mr Dermot Ahern.
The pallbearers included his brother, Joe (Dave), and his cousin, Mr P.J. Cudden, who are also members of the Defence Forces.
The Last Post was played as his Tricolour-draped coffin was led to nearby Stamullen Cemetery.
Sgt Mooney's widow was comforted by his mother, Miriam, and her aunt, Ms Kathleen Gilligan. His eight-year-old son, Conor, walked at the front of the cortege wearing his father's Air Corps cap and carrying a rose.
As part of the military funeral, six volleys of three shots were discharged over the coffin and, because the sergeant was a member of the Air Corps, three Marchetti jets flew overhead. The jets normally fly in a cross formed by four aircraft; the missing plane yesterday was to mark the loss to the Air Corps of the sergeant.
The Defence Forces were represented by the Chief-of-Staff, Lieut Gen Dave Stapleton; General Officer Commanding the Air Corps, Brig Gen Pat Cranfield; and Commander Noel Goulding, representing the Naval Service.