Cell phones were silenced. And then a voice on a loudspeaker called the color guards, the uniformed police officers, the firefighters, and EMS workers to order.
For five minutes the only sound was that of the news helicopters hovering overhead, and then slowly in the distance, the rhythmic pounding of the bass drums began to grow louder followed by the high-pitched skirl of the bagpipes.
Slowly a State Police motorcycle detail emerged on Church Street followed by two Peabody fire department trucks – Engine 5 and Ladder 1 – the ladder truck was carrying flowers while the engine carried the body of Peabody firefighter James Rice.
As the procession arrived at the church near City Hall, Rice’s casket was unloaded and some 1,000 hands snapped to attention in salute.
A procession, which included Governor Deval Patrick, Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray, and state Fire Marshall Stephen D. Coan, entered the church.
Cheri Rathbun, 39, of Peabody, said her 8-year-old son Jacob goes to the same school, and is friends with, Rice’s son Ryan. She watched the procession.
“He was very sweet. He was just a real good guy,’’ Rathburn said of James Rice. “Every time I look at that flag I cry. I say to my kids I hope he’s looking down from heaven and saying ‘Wow’ because this is amazing. In my 39 years here I have never felt anything like I do today.”
After the funeral cortege arrived and Rice’s casket was borne into the church, Rathburn said she appreciated that so many firefighters showed their support to the Rice family.
“It’s a huge loss,” she said. “I hate December now. I thought the ceremony and everything with all the saluting was nice. But it’s just so heart breaking.
It was quiet again for a few moments until the assembly was ordered dismissed because the vast majority of firefighters would not fit into the church. They stayed outside, most of them grouped by city or town, but many of them intermingling, sharing war stories and talking shop.
