Thousands lined the streets around Bury in Northern England Friday as the funeral procession for Army Drummer Lee Rigby moved by. Rigby was murdered on the streets of London by Jihadist terrorists in May. Included in the procession were his family and in particular his son whose shirt read ‘My Daddy My Hero’ on the back.
Many had also attended a procession leading to a vigil in Lee Rigby’s honour the day before in the Greater Manchester area. On this occasion, little Jack Rigby wore a Manchester United shirt with the player name ‘Riggers’ to honour his fallen father.
‘Riggers’ stepfather Ian spoke words that rang loud and true.
"Everywhere we have been, people have been supporting us. They have been incredible with us. Total strangers! They have been absolutely incredible, coming up - not in your face but shaking hands and saying God Bless, that sort of thing. And they have really meant what they said to us. And it's the same in the community. The support in Middleton - it's a small place - but the support we have had off everybody has been incredible. It's just the continued support. Lee has become a hero. Whatever the intention was it backfired because it's made Lee into the hero and the martyr. The country is united whatever elements may wish to stop it. It's not working because it's working the other way."
I remember the day after 9/11 in California. People didn’t get up the next day laying low in fear of another attack; they rose and raised the American flag on-mass. I remember writing to my mum on the south coast of England and telling her “it looks like the 4th of July here”. Churches quickly gathered, some held city-wide unified services. People were determined to respond!
Britain too has rallied in its own way. There is no obvious geographical target as there was in 2001 but the sentiment that militant Islam has to be dealt with has strengthened. Whilst too many people were tamely heading toward cultural submission, there is a new resolve that it cannot be allowed to happen.
To hear of Lee Rigby the man, must once again bring hope to our hearts. ‘Riggers’ mother Lyn said her "fun-loving" son had "fulfilled his dreams" by serving in the Army. "He was so loving, he really was, He would do anything for anybody. He had a heart of gold. He wouldn't hurt anybody." Her husband continued: "He was a devoted soldier. He loved what he was doing. He believed in what he was doing but he was still a family man. His sisters and his son, he was devoted. Whatever happened they came first”.
In a time when the existence of the traditional family is under growing threat and in a time when men in general are increasingly addressed with a combination of belittling commentary increasing suspicion, the words of the memorial bring hope that bright young men of valour are still coming through.
Lee Rigby was a soldier but that was his vocation. He was a committed husband, father, and family man who stood for principles and did not fear to perform in the line of duty to see it accomplished. Lieutenant Colonel Jim Taylor, his C.O., said "He was always at the centre of fun and mischief, but he was a true regimental character with real charisma and everybody fell under his spell. He was a fantastic drummer and a fantastic soldier."
Unfortunately these qualities are being lost on a lot of the nation with Britain’s newspaper front pages turning their attention elsewhere. Will & Kate baby watch, plane fire at Heathrow, free lunches for all schoolchildren under 11. All 3 made the front pages but no mention of the funeral proceedings. But British resolve is greater than the sum of its newspapers' desire to move on to another agenda.
There will be consequences for the murderers. Proceedings against Michael Adebolajo, 28, and Michael Adebowale, 22 will begin on September 27th. But I would stop short of saying there will be justice. There is no capital punishment in the UK and the judicial system has a tendency to move toward parole on murderers when the convicted have served a sentence in the teen years.
One in four British Muslims thought the attacks known as 7/7 (July 7th 2005) in London were justified. This is not the tiny minority that some appeasers try to point out. It is a growing radicalization of the Islamic community. Whilst some Muslims do go mainstream and increasingly are westernized, more and more are turning to the stricter sects. What’s disappearing in the religion is the genuine moderate. Nature abhors a vacuum; Muslims will either grow away from Islam or rush towards its more extreme versions.
But there will always be a hope - of safety and a return to the righteous ways - as long as a remnant remains. As long as dedicated parents raise men of honour like Lee Rigby, men who will defend the country whilst blessing their marriage and family, men who will do the right thing regardless of the price they may have to pay.
