Masses converge outside Second Baptist Church to honor fallen Deputy Darren Goforth
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- They came in uniform and out. In groups and on their own. Some with American flags. Others with banners.
Hundreds on motorcycles from all over Texas and even more on foot. All were there to honor a man they'd never met: Harris County Deputy Darren Goforth, who was gunned down last Friday night while putting gas into his patrol car.
The final farewell to the fallen deputy took place Friday at the Second Baptist Church in Houston.
Photos from memorial and funeral
Three-year-old Charley Squillante came in the back of a stroller with her mom, brother, aunt, cousins and grandma.
"A police officer was getting gas and somebody killed him," the three-year-old said.
It's hard to imagine a three-year-old would understand that. Perhaps she's lucky she doesn't completely get it.
But her mother knew exactly why she brought her kids here and skipped the planned trip to the Houston Zoo. Mom wanted this funeral to be a teachable moment.
"I wanted them to learn who our real superheroes were," Courtney Squillante said. "They're our police officers, our firefighters, and first responders. They're out here learning who the real good guys were."
The real superhero right now is Deputy Darren Goforth. He was buried in his Captain America T-shirt under his Harris County deputy's dress uniform.
As Goforth's casket passed, followed quickly by his family, the sign carried by Squillante's aunt meant so much more on this tear-filled day. 'Love ya Blue,' it read.
And three-year-old Charley spoke for us all.
"Thank you," he said.
Click or tap here if you'd like to donate to the 100 Club, which funds the family of fallen police officers and firefighters. and you can donate to the family at this GoFundMe link.
