!@#$ the animals that did this and the animals that supported them. Apologizing in advance to all hypersensitive posters. http://inq.philly.com/content/inquirer/2001/09/18/specials/attack/HORROCKS18.htm After the funeral for Michael R. Horrocks, Jennifer Horrocks comforts his widow, Miriam Horrocks, and son, Michael Horrocks, age 6. The first flight officer on United Flight 175 was killed Tuesday. Jennifer Horrocks is his sister-in-law. (BOB WILLIAMS / Inquirer Suburban Staff) Tuesday, September 18, 2001 'He's watching over us in heaven' Hundreds help a Delaware County pilot's wife, children bid farewell. By Marc Schogol INQUIRER STAFF WRITER After the hymns and prayers and eulogies, Michael R. Horrocks' 9-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son wished their father one last goodbye yesterday. Many times in their short lives, they had seen him head off to fly for United Airlines, knowing that when he returned to their home in Glen Mills, Delaware County, there would be hugs and kisses galore. But last Tuesday, Horrocks was the first flight officer on Flight 175, a United jet that crashed into the World Trade Center as part of the nation's worst terrorist attack. Instead of a homecoming for the Horrocks family, there was a funeral yesterday - the first of many that will come in the region as victims of the tragedy of Sept. 11 are identified. Nearly 500 mourners filled St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Upper Providence, and hundreds more listened to the service on loudspeakers outside. Christa and young Michael were inside with their mother, Miriam, and the rest of their family. But they were too young to speak, so their Aunt Janet delivered their final message for them. "I know he's watching over us in heaven, and he'll be waiting for us there," she said one of the youngsters had told her. "Daddy," both said, "we love you up to the moon and back." The heavens above - that was where Horrocks, 38, lived and died. A star quarterback at Hershey High School and West Chester University, Horrocks became a Marine flier and then a United pilot. He loved to fly, said his friends and colleagues, many of whom were wearing Marine and United uniforms at the funeral. Next to his family, they said, it's the thing he loved most in the world. And at Thanksgiving and Christmas, when people wanted to go home for family and spiritual nurturing, Horrocks was proud to promise: "I'll get them there," said the Rev. James Finnegan, a family friend who spoke at the service. To Horrocks' children, Father Finnegan said: "When your Mom cries - and she will - you just tell her she's loved by God. And when you want to cry, it's OK. That's why all these people are here. They want to let you know you're loved by God." One of those people, Joe Walsh of Bethel, who played football with Horrocks at West Chester, said Horrocks was filled with the joy of life. "He was one of the most fantastic individuals I ever had the privilege of knowing," he said. When they first heard about Tuesday's cataclysm, Horrocks' friends and relatives hoped - prayed - that he was not on one of those planes. Even after initial reports that he was: "My first reaction was, it can't be true," said his aunt, Pam Horrocks, 59. The truth still had not completely sunk in, friends and relatives said yesterday. After the religious service, there was a military service held outside the church, under the crisp, clear autumn skies Horrocks would have loved. A 21-gun salute was fired, a kilted bagpiper played the Marine Hymn and "Amazing Grace," a bugler played Taps, and two Marines folded a flag and presented it to Miriam Horrocks. Her young son sat in her lap, clutching a small flag and crying. Her young daughter sat next to her, clutching a flag and trying not to cry. Over and over again, their mother hugged and kissed them both. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Marc Schogol's e-mail address is mschogol@phillynews.com.
