Command Sergeant Major Patrick Roger Sirois, United States Army (Ret.)

Flags at funeral home

Police escort to the cemetery

Committal shelter at cemetery

Police Bugler

Police officers at the interment

Apache helicopter hovering overhead

Flag line at the cemetery

Flag line at the convention center

Rifle detail

Flag line at convention center

Officers at the interment

Flag line at the interment

Patrick Sirois was born June 8, 1960 in Hartford, Connecticut and passed away on November 23, 2010, at the age of 50, at Eufala, Oklahoma.

Because of Patrick’s short stature, he was not able to go into law enforcement as a young man, so he joined the United States Army in 1979.  He served his country for twenty three years, retiring in 2002 as a Command Sergeant Major.  His many military decorations and awards include the Bronze Star, the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal,  and numerous other service medals and ribbons.

After retirement he achieved his childhood dream, by joining the Department of Defense as a Police Officer on Fort Hood, Texas and was also a reserve officer with the Nolanville, Texas Police Department.  He was named Officer of the Year by the Nolanville Police Department in 2009, the first such honor for a reserve officer.

He was known as Pat to his family and friends and was loved for his humor and compassion.  It was his willingness to help others that took his life.

On November 23, he was traveling to Oklahoma with his fiancée, Karen, to spend Thanksgiving with family.  Near Eufala, Oklahoma he came upon an accident.  He stopped, put on his reflective vest and began to assist one of the drivers.   As he spoke to the man on the shoulder, he saw that another car was about to collide with the stalled vehicle.  He pushed the driver from harm’s way just as the vehicle was struck, pinning him between it and the guard rail.  He was transported to a Eufala hospital, where he passed away from his injuries.  Pat’s last act was to give his life to save another.

On Wednesday, November 24, officers from both Fort Hood and Nolanville traveled to Oklahoma and returned Pat to Texas.  As they neared Killeen, officers from the Army, Killeen, Harker Heights and Nolanville Police Departments joined the escort.  When they arrived at the funeral home, they were welcomed by citizens holding American flags.

On Tuesday, November 29, the United States Honor Flag was flown to Killeen to be displayed at the funeral and interment services.  The Honor Flag is an American flag that was flown over ground zero after the 9/11 attacks.  The Patriot Guard Riders were present at the Killeen-Ft. Hood Regional Airport when the flag and its escort arrived.  The Riders then escorted the flag to the Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home in Killeen. 

Funeral services were held on December 1, 2010 at the Killeen, Texas Convention Center, a forum chosen to hold the 1200 attendees.  Hundreds of police officers from all over Central Texas were present.

In attendance were the Patriot Guard Riders.  They formed a line of American flags at the entrance of the center to welcome the arriving family and friends.

At the conclusion of the service, the Patriot Guard Riders rode in  the funeral procession with the hearse, family car, hundreds of  police cars, police motorcycles, fire trucks and private vehicles to the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen.


As the procession arrived at the cemetery, an Army Apache Helicopter hovered above the entrance to the cemetery.

Waiting at the cemetery were other Riders, Honor Guards of the Fort Hood Police Department and of the United States Army,  and fifty American flags lining the roadway at the committal shelter, blowing briskly in the Texas wind.

The interment service began with a prayer, followed by the “End of Watch” Ceremony for  Badge 822 and Badge 1821,  performed by the Police Honor Guard.

The Army Honor Guard then rendered full military honors.  A detail of seven rifles fired three volleys of fire, representing Duty, Honor and Country.  A Police bugler played taps.  The American flag that covered the silver casket was then folded into a tight triangle and presented to Pat’s fiancée on behalf of the President States of America, the United States Army and a grateful country, in thanks for his faithful service.

A second folded American flag was presented to Pat’s son, Patrick, Jr.

The service concluded with the playing of Amazing Grace by a bagpiper. 

Patrick Roger Sirois was then laid to rest on the gentle slope of the cemetery, overlooking the Texas Hill Country.  The American flag flew at half-staff at the top of the hill, above, in his honor.

Left to cherish his memory are his fiancée, his son, a daughter, his mother, two sisters, a brother and too many other family and friends, fellow soldiers and police officers to list.

Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

‘twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!

With thanks to the Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home, the Killeen Daily Herald, KCEN-TV and News Channel 25 for biographical information, and to Amanda McCurdy Carter and the Killeen Daily Herald for additional photographs.

Links to television news reports

http://www.kxxv.com/Global/story.asp?S=13599437


http://www.centraltexasnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=13591111

Link to United States Honor Flag

http://www.ushonorflag.org/story.html

Link to funeral home for photos

http://www.obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Patrick-Sirois&lc=1795&pid=146827678&mid=4451878&view=photo&photoid=13990787