RI Pays Respect to Fallen Soldier

Word cannot express the sorrow felt by the residents of this state after losing one their finest, P. Andrew McKenna, a Green Beret who devoted his life to ensure our freedom.

McKenna, 35, was killed last week in an Taliban attack on Camp Integrity in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Thousands of mourners gathered along the road from Quonset in North Kingstown, where his body arrived, to Warren on Friday.

On Sunday, hundreds more mourners waited their turn to pay respect at St. Mary of the Bay Church in Warren for his wake.

Each time, flags and signs were hung from road fixtures, porches and doors. Children, men, women, old and young stood on the shoulders to watch the motorcade make its way to Warren, which was jammed with traffic as mourners massed.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be today at 11 a.m. at St. Mary of the Bay Church.

The public is welcome.

Burial is at St. Mary’s Cemetery on Chestnut Street in Bristol.

The public is encouraged to line the three-mile stretch from the church to the cemetery.

The Rhode Island National Guard posted a tribute video to pay respect to McKenna. The video has been viewed tens of thousands of times. See below:

McKenna, the son of Peter and Carol McKenna, entered the Army on July 24, 1998 as an infantryman.

He completed the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2002 and began his career as a Green Beret when he was assigned to the 7th Special Forces Group as communications sergeant in May of 2003.

McKenna’s military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with V device, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Master Free Fall Parachutist Badge, the Master Parachutist Badge, the Air Assault Badge and the Special Forces Tab