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A Final Farewell At Cpl. Bryon Dickson’s Burial

DUNMORE — After his funeral mass in downtown Scranton, a procession carried Corporal Bryon Dickson to the community where he lived with his wife and boys....

DUNMORE -- After his funeral mass in downtown Scranton, a procession carried Corporal Bryon Dickson to the community where he lived with his wife and boys.

We were invited to be at Dunmore Cemetery for the final send off and burial of the fallen trooper.

In a cemetery so silent and so peaceful, only the sound of horse hoofs could be heard as the state police guided their brother in law enforcement, Corporal Bryon Dickson to his final resting place.

It was the sound of bagpipes that pierced that silence, announcing to all that a hero had arrived.

Dummore is the community where Cpl. Dickson and his family called home. This cemetery is where his flag-draped casket was brought to rest in peace.

In a day filled with symbolism in sound and image, his wife and sons followed their husband and father for one more goodbye.

"We commit his body to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust."

There were graveside prayers as family friends and fellow troopers stood watch.

Then the state police had their send off for one of their own.

From a gun salute that echoed across the grounds, to the roar of state police helicopters that flew in tribute, to the sound of taps playing for the state trooper and U.S. Marine, this was a sendoff with full honors, including the presentation of the flag of a grateful nation to Cpl. Dickson's parents.

And a thank you from a grateful state to his wife and boys; a presentation to them as they now deal with the sacrifice of a man dedicated to serving others.

While this burial was only open to those close to Cpl. Dickson, others felt they had to be at the cemetery's gate in his honor.

"I just had to be here for all the state police, for everyone, for all the families," said Ann Gronski.

Gronski is part of that state police family. Her son served with Cpl. Dickson at Blooming Grove.

"It's just devastating for a few days. I just felt sick, because you're one of them."

"It's amazing how they pull together, not only Pennsylvania troopers here, but troopers from across the country," said Bob Winters, father of a state trooper.

But it was only those troopers who served close to Cpl. Dickson who had the final salute, the final farewell.

At the cemetery, we also heard Cpl. Dickson's final call on the police radio as he was dispatched to his final call.

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