10-31-08 Dale and Michael on Flat Dan's Funeral

Allow us to begin if we can win a a quick word of thanks to Michael Felger rob Bradford who filled in forest yesterday. It was our privilege. And our honor. To attend the funeral mass for our friend Dan Williams yesterday. And that we've only known Danny for a couple of years now. And there were several occasions over the course of the of the two years where. Michael would say to me RI would say to Michael how is this kids to -- strong how is he so. You know housing so full of grace how does he handle things as well as he does. And I mean no disrespect. To Danny's -- Stephen. Danny's brother Brian. We know now how to -- is as strong as he was with his mom -- Just blew me away yesterday.

You don't know how she did it. She stood up she had the final words. Of the service yesterday. She had some prepared remarks it was an -- And the way I would put it I would put it like this it was almost as if you were sitting there watching a short film. On short documentary about this -- life because. Her images were so vivid and her descriptions were so perfect. That if you didn't know the kid before. You felt like you know them when she finished. Reading that piece and it it look like it was about a fifteen minutes long I was gonna say it looked like it was brought you know six or seven pages. She -- a lot of people. And she just told you. About this kid's life -- everything. Everything that he was about and that seemed to meet their arms are you got. You know you got something out of it that I didn't get out of it but to me. The thing was he kept on living he just kept living despite the fact. That he had this disease and a rare form of cancer. As they Alison yeah Italy year without people a year get in the world. It is rare form of cancer. He continues to.

You be cute he continues to golf and she told a funny story of how. How cancer and it spread to different parts of his body it affects his leg he had to golf on one leg and we still because that on one leg and how. He became obsessed with driving like many fifteen and sixteen year olds are -- Looked up to his Big Brother and imitated his Big Brother and always tried to to please him and wanted his Big Brother his approval and that's like a lot of kids. That you hear from how he was a huge Celtics man and a Patriots fan and Red Sox and at times. His doctor. And it -- mom put it this -- both were amid a few words and both of them understood that instead of talking about. The medical condition it was easier and more appropriate to talk about sports and other. Would break down the big games from the previous night it was it was really well done and -- the was perfect she was perfect in the way. She got through that whole thing there was no. Every everybody else there's not a dry eye in the house including mine everybody else is losing it and -- with her as she was able to get through until the very end. Which she said. Good night baby boy sleep well sleep well. And that's final word yeah.

That did it for everybody the the community of Melrose and I am and Melrose long minutes north of Boston South Boston I'd just don't have much opportunity to go there. When I when I went through Melrose. A couple of days ago to go to the way. I saw the flags of high school or perhaps that. And when I got to the funeral home I can't tell you how many kids standing in line out on the sidewalk waiting for the chance. To go win all the boys -- their shirts and ties and all the girls. You know nicely dressed and and yesterday I mean how many kids how many high school kids sin and that -- where we're in that. The entire Melrose high school marching band in color guard. Marched into the to the Church he was of a member of the of the band. They all marched in in full uniform. And they had to take a room off to decide because there was too many people right right you could fit everybody in the Church there were people standing down both sides of the Church. Immediately it was. It was difficult. And yet you were up lifted at the end of the of the entire thing. And I was you know not doing great listening to Gayle and when they started this thing Danny boy is they took Danny out of the -- out.

Who well I'd say this folks in. And some of you have have gone through this. And god bless you if you've gone through it but I don't know how. This is strength on top of strength on top of strength strength that we the two of us will never be able to articulate. But I don't know how you. Read that as she did yesterday. And then walk out of a Church. Following a casket. With a sixteen year old boy inside. Your side I don't know how you doing. And and -- hurt. Her her her faith is I'm sure. She has prayed a lot and has been around of people have been around a lot of people praying for her. I wouldn't blame -- It is human nature even some of the most religious people that mother Teresa even talked about at times her faith being -- it -- being shaken. I'm sure at times her faith has been shaken and banner in. Her husband's -- has been -- I understand. I understand.

It's it's it's an incredible thing. To CNN is it is it's heartbreaking.

We get to know Danny through the Jimmy Fund radio telephone we became friends with Danny a couple of years ago through that Jimmy Fund radio telethon. And yesterday as you've got to the Church. They hand out you know little program of the -- of what's going to happen for the funeral mass and the picture on the front page of the program. Is Danny at Jimmy Fund radio telephone. Sitting at the microphone. That freckle faced -- that huge smile. This was from two years ago this was not from last year this was the picture from year before this one. Because this year he was he was hurt a lot more than this season. But that's how we got an Altman that's how you know that faced right there is the face we knew. You know whenever we talk to Ohman and our our friendly so sure -- or was there from the Jimmy Fund and we talked at least afterwards everybody just sort of milling around on the sidewalk go out in front of the Church and I said -- how do you to what you'd do. How he would do this. And they're special people I mean -- everybody who who helps these kids at that. The Dana Farber cancer institute and every hospital on the planet where there. Helping kids with terminal illnesses I've I don't know what you do I don't know high you do it. But there is a special corner of heaven waiting for all.

Yeah I hadn't and you know some -- into this summer you are not you know some people pray for folks that don't know and and other people say well some -- reform where appeared -- If you're it to praying for people you don't know say a prayer for the Williams family. And if if you're neighbors and friends and they got tons of neighbors and tons of friends there there rather yesterday. This family's going to need so. It got a feeling yeah good friend a -- neighbor.

Based on what I saw yesterday that entire community is there yet I mean it was it was an amazing. Thing to say. And as as I said it was it was our privilege and honor to be there. You know we didn't know him as well as. Practically everybody else in that place. But you know we just felt that we wanted to be there and pay our respects as well and that's -- I'm really glad we did.