CHESTERFIELD, Mo. _ Malachi Snyder's eyes widened with wonder Thursday as the 2-year-old, protected by the innocence of his age, pointed at hundreds of police officers standing at attention as his mother carried him behind the flag-draped casket of his father.
Bagpipes played mournful music and flags flapped in a cool breeze outside the St. Louis Family Church in Chesterfield while thousands waited to pay their final respects to St. Louis County Officer Blake Snyder.
He was shot to death in the line of duty just a few hours more than a week before.
There already had been uncounted tears and salutes and hands held over hearts as a gold hearse carried Snyder's body from a funeral home to the church, along the way passing the Affton precinct station, where he was based for four years. There, his patrol car sat buried beneath stuffed animals, cards, flowers, candles and other remembrances.
Officers from Snyder's precinct marched first into the sanctuary, filled to its capacity of 2,000. News media and the public watched from a packed overflow room of perhaps 600 people, with others watching on a large screen outside.
Images from Snyder's life flashed across TVs, including the moment his older brother first saw his newborn sibling through a hospital nursery window, the fallen officer's wedding day and the first time he held Malachi.
Pastor Jeff Perry opened the ceremony by reading a list of Snyder's survivors before the playing of the song, "Tell Your Heart to Beat Again," selected by Snyder's widow.
Perry described Snyder's devotion to his faith, noting that Malachi was named after the last book of the Old Testament.
Eulogies were delivered by St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger, county Police Chief Jon Belmar, Pastor Duane Vancil of the River of Life Community Church in Godfrey, Snyder's brother, Adam, and his brother-in-law and fellow county police officer, Justin Sparks.
Belmar called Snyder "our newest American hero" and then directed a message to Malachi and his mother, Elizabeth Snyder: "You are now and forever part of the St. Louis County police family, and more than that, part of the law enforcement family nationwide."
The chief also acknowledged the backup officer who shot and wounded the man who killed Snyder: "You did all you could to protect Blake and because of you, Blake did not die alone."
Stenger cried as he told Snyder's family: "No words can fill the empty place in your hearts or relieve your pain, but please know that St. Louis County, the entire metro area and from what I saw yesterday at the visitation, the entire nation stands behind you ready to offer our support." He added, "Not just for today, or for tomorrow, but whenever you need it."
That visitation had drawn thousands Wednesday to the Kutis Funeral Home in Affton. Gov. Jay Nixon was among them.
U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner, R-Mo., and Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster attended the funeral, along with hundreds of officers from outside the region, including Canada, New York and Texas.
On Thursday, Adam Snyder recalled that after his brother's police academy graduation in December 2012, he and his parents, Dick and Peggy Snyder, privately spoke of their fears.
"But not once did we ever say anything, never once did we discourage him because we knew it was his calling to serve and protect others," Adam Snyder said.
After the service, county officers in dress uniforms escorted Snyder's widow and his son to a limousine for a procession of about 50 miles to Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery in Godfrey. The line of police and other vehicles stretched an estimated five miles, with dozens of motorcycles leading the way.
Throngs of people lined the route with signs, flags and ribbons. Firefighters displayed flags from overpasses.
It took about 90 minutes for the hearse to reach the cemetery, and perhaps 45 minutes more before family emerged from the limo after waiting for hundreds of cars to file in behind.
Malachi couldn't wait to wriggle out of his mother's arms and again marvel at the officers who formed a square around him and saluted behind the tent where his mother, grandparents, uncles and others wept at the grave.
One officer broke formation and blew him a kiss; some extended hands for him to touch.
He waved at them. Giggled. And ran with the energy only a child knows.
Officers folded the flag from the casket and Belmar presented it to Elizabeth Snyder.
The silence was broken by the crack of a 21-gun salute, a flyover by three police helicopters and a ceremonial "last call" for Snyder over the police radio. A dispatcher read his badge number, 4153, and announced: "Officer Blake Snyder is 10-42 at 3:19 p.m. Oct. 13, 2016," using the code for going off duty.
Finally, 33 white doves, one for each of his years, were released.
They circled together overhead.
And Malachi watched with his wide eyes.
