Local Veterans Pay Tribune to Seamus Byrne

Hundreds waited outside Clayton’s Funeral Home in Kings Park Wednesday night as American flags swayed in the cold March wind and soldiers from Long Island’s famed Fighting 69th stood at attention. 

Inside, another two hundred mourners were shoulder to shoulder paying their respects to Seamus Bryne, the  33 year-old Purple Heart recipient who was tragically killed early Sunday morning on a deadly stretch of Main Street in Smithtown after celebrating his birthday with friends and relatives. 

Over twenty members of the Kings Park and Smithtown s  and American Legion were on hand to partake in a special ceremony for their fallen brother. 

 “It’s heart wrenching to see the family’s pain  - and to have him taken so senselessly,” said  Ray Marchand, President of the Kings Park Men's Auxiliary and Byrne family friend.

The crowd got quiet as Byrne's 10-year old son, Seamus spoke to the packed room of mourners.

“My dad was the only guy in the world who had two purple hearts and I’m probably the only kid in America with a purple heart,” said young Byrne.

“My dad just wanted to make a good mark and it looks like he got what he wanted – a lot of people loved him,” he said.

The Suffolk County Commander of the VFW, Sid Lynn, oversaw the reverant ceremony.  He served in Vietnam from 1967-1969.  Two soldiers stood guard in front of the coffin as all twenty veterans saluted Seamus Byrne.   

 “We are here to pay our farewell to a comrade,” said Lynn.  “We thank him for the service he has given for his country.”

There was a prayer and one veteran placed a small piece of evergreen in the casket to represent their undying love for their comrade.  Then another veteran placed a white flower in the casket to represent the purity of Bryne’s unselfish duty.  Lastly a wreath was placed in the coffin as a final token and a symbol of victory.

“On behalf of our glorious republic, we place upon his casket, a flag to shelter the oppressed,” said Lynn.

As a bugler played taps the veterans paid their final respects two by two. Byrne's  fellow veteran’s of war presented his family with a bible in his honor.   

Lynn said his role as the Suffolk Commander of the VFW takes him all over the county for funerals.  “This one is especially difficult, this fellow served his time and almost got killed in duty and then this,” said Lynn.