Memorial service honors an old soldier

Brig. Gen. Sparks served his nation and Colorado

By James B. Meadow, Rocky Mountain News

Published October 3, 2007 at midnight

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An urgent wind marched out of the north, washing the sky, stiffening flags, bludgeoning the leaves that were starting to segue from green to gold, scattering some of the tears being shed as friends and family said a final goodbye to an old soldier who probably would have wondered if they didn't have better things to do.

The old soldier was retired Brig. Gen. Felix Sparks, a man described as being "part of the timeless heroism we read about in legends."

Since the words were delivered by a eulogist at Sparks' funeral Tuesday at the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, it might seem logical to suspect they were overstated.

Logical but incorrect.

Sparks, an officer in the 157th Infantry Regiment who rose from captain to lieutenant colonel in the blink-of-an-eye span of two months, was a certifiable hero of World War II. The recipient of two Silver Stars and two Purple Hearts, he is being considered for a Distinguished Service Cross —the nation's second-highest commendation — by the secretary of the Army for fearlessly exposing himself to enemy fire and risking his life to save three wounded men.

No surprise there. According to son Kirk, "When my father was in the Army, there was only one thing that was important to him. It wasn't home, mom or apple pie or flag or country. He just cared about his men — keeping them alive, taking care of them."

During his regiment's record 511 days in combat, Sparks was shot in the stomach and had his liver lacerated by shrapnel as he fought his way from the beaches of Anzio in Italy to the wintry countryside of Germany, where he was among the first U.S. Army officers to help in the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp, Dachau.

But the immense canvas upon which Sparks painted his masterpiece of a life wasn't limited to military service. Until pneumonia claimed him Sept. 24 at age 90, he remained what Kirk Sparks called "a commanding presence to all." He never stopped being what granddaughter Natalie Bogucki called "a true-to-life superhero."

At 38, the University of Colorado law school graduate became the youngest person ever to serve on the Colorado Supreme Court. He followed that up with a distinguished tenure on the Colorado Water Conservation Board — 21 years as director.

And the man once described by someone who served under him as "a soldier's soldier" stayed linked to the military, too, rising to brigadier general in the Colorado National Guard and serving as its commander from 1969 to 1977. Its armory was dedicated in his honor in 2001.

But it wasn't just what he was that elevated him to iconic status, it was who he was.

As about 300 people listened, speaker after speaker cited that "commanding presence," noted that cudgel-like voice, referenced — as did Jack Hallowell, a former soldier under Sparks — the fact that he could be "opinionated" and "direct."

Gov. Bill Ritter stood before the room and spoke reverently of him. "He was always a general," said Ritter, thanking Sparks' widow, Mary, their four children and six grandchildren for "his greatness" and "service" and closing with, "We are all a better people for it."

Before the service, mourners walked past a photo collage that traced the arc of Sparks' evolution from young officer to old warrior, from fresh-faced newlywed to craggy-faced great-grandfather. They walked past his WW II helmet and pistol. Past faded photographs that showed Dachau's unspeakable horrors, past the insignia of his beloved 157th Infantry and its motto — "Eager for Duty."

Once seated, they listened as Lt. Col. Barbara Wickham spoke of Sparks' "timeless heroism" and Bogucki invoked a "sweet, gentle man" who cared for birds, fish and tarantulas with passion. They held back tears as grandson Blair Sparks said, "The nice thing about having your grandfather as your hero is your hero loves you back."

At last, everyone was invited to walk by the open casket to offer a final farewell. A lot of those who did were supported by canes, crutches and walkers, slowly filing past, lifting their hands in a final salute.

An hour later, many of them gathered at Crown Hill Cemetery, for a final military send-off. They stood as the 101st Army Band moved slowly down the sun- splashed esplanade, the drummer beating out a somber cadence — rap ... rap ... rap-rap-rap — as a phalanx of soldiers marched behind. Behind the soldiers was the hearse. And behind the hearse was a riderless horse, bearing the traditional boots turned backward and saber dangling from the right side.

They sat as the band played a medley of jaunty marching tunes — The Army Song, Garry Owen. They listened as a Pack 75 howitzer launched 11 blasts and a 21-gun salute was delivered by soldiers younger than most of Sparks' grandchildren. They stood silently — hands on hearts or locked in salutes — as the notes of Taps hung in the air. The wind, as if out of respect, had died down, preserving the sound.

They watched as Mary Sparks received the flag that had draped the coffin. They watched as four Guard helicopters passed overhead, loud but majestic, an aerial salute.

They sat through the hourlong performance of military pomp. And they would have waited even longer, willing — no, eager — to be detained, not wanting to proceed because proceeding meant letting go and because, said a tearful Wickham, "He was my friend. It's hard to say goodbye."

But they had to. For now it was time to bury Brig. Gen. Felix Sparks, the old soldier who loved his men, his family and his country. The old soldier whose commanding presence had endured in life and, so it seemed, was fated to do the same in death.

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