Posted at: 07/25/2009 10:56 PM
By: Bay Scroggins

Print Story  Email to a Friend

Funeral Held for Specialist Dan Drevnick

(ABC 6 NEWS) -- Friends and family of Specialist Daniel Drevnick laid him to rest today.
   
Drevnick died last week in a missile strike while stationed in Iraq with the 34th Military Police Company.

A mother and father buried their son.
    
Friends reached for one last touch of his casket, as comrades mourned a soldier.

Some people put on a tough face, but behind the circle of flags on a windy day, you could feel the pain.

"We've been to too many and one is too many, but it's the price of freedom and freedom's not free,” said Doug Bley, a Minnesota Patriot Guard Member.  
     
Specialist Daniel Drevnick died in Iraq.

"As long as there is a military member anywhere in the world who's willing to put themselves on the line in harms way and make the ultimate sacrifice, we will stand,” said Bley.
  
And more than 200 of Minnesota's Patriot Guard stood.
  
Along with hundreds of people, many who only saw his picture and felt a connection.

"Felt it was my duty to pay the last respects to a fallen comrade,” said David Pederson.
  
Drevnick will never get to see how many lives he touched.
  
From the state troopers his father worked with everyday for decades - now here to escort his casket.

"Just brings tingles through my spine to think about what he's given for our freedom,” said Minnesota State Patrol Captain Cheri Frandrup.
  
To the neighbors that lived 2 doors down.

"Our hearts just ache for the family,” said Denise Minea.
  
And the soldiers.

"We take any fallen soldier's loss very hard,” said Minnesota National Guard Captain Paul Rickert.
    
Specialist Drevnick's casket has been escorted by the State Patrol since it arrived in Minnesota.
    
Those close to Drevnick say, he wanted to follow in his father's footsteps.