HARTFORD, Conn. — A sea of blue showed up in solidarity Wednesday for the funeral of State Trooper First Class Aaron Pelletier. But it was the red, white and blue that symbolizes his true service and sacrifice. That’s why an American Flag like no other enveloped Trooper First Class Pelletier until his final rest.
Most American flags are destined for the top of a flagpole. A limited life lived waving in a gentle breeze for the opportunity to catch a gaze or an occasional salute. But this flag - well - this flag has miles.
“It was completely random faith,” said Captain Marcus Rogers.
United Airlines Captain Marcus Rodgers is a Connecticut resident. He had just landed in New Orleans last week when he got word that his aircraft would be escorting special cargo back home.
“Since Sept. 11, 2001, this flag has journeyed to honor thousands of fallen police officers,” explained Chris Heisler, the president of the United States Honor Flag program. Heisler started that journey some 22 years ago. “The journey hasn’t stopped. It’s just kept going ever since.”
This time it’s destination was Hartford.
“I looked at him and said, is this for Aaron Pelletier. He says yes, do you know him? Chills went up my spine. He said you know I’d like you to hold the flag,” explained Rogers.
Donning the required single use embroidered white gloves, Rogers clutched the United States honor flag to his heart. A heart that’s still heavy and healing. You see, Rogers intimately knows the darkness of grief.
“You live with it daily,” he said.
His 16-year-old son, also named Marcus, was killed by a reckless driver in Wolcott just over a year ago.
“My son was on his way to hockey practice with his grandfather. A reckless driver was on the wrong side of the road at a high rate of speed and took my son and his grandfather’s life,” said Rogers.
RELATED: Hundreds gather in Southington for moment of silence in honor of fallen Trooper Aaron Pelletier
Upon hearing Aaron was also killed by a driver, Rogers dropped to his knees in prayer for the Pelletiers. He didn’t know then that their two worlds would ever weave together in this way. It’s a connection beyond coincidence.
“The correlation of Aaron’s loss of life and our son’s loss of life are so similar,” said Rogers. “I hope Aaron’s family surrounds themselves with the same positivity that we did.”
For Rogers, part of the positivity was creating a charitable foundation in his son’s name. As for the U.S. honor flag, it's been to battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan and has even circled the globe from space. It, unfortunately, will be on the move again soon to support another first responders' family in their time of grief.
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Matt Caron is a reporter at FOX61 News. He can be reached at mcaron@fox61.com. Follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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