Cannon buried at Arlington Cemetery

Wednesday, April 10, 2002 | 11:05 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Howard Cannon was remembered as a World War II hero, a respected and effective 24-year member of Congress and beloved family man during his burial at Arlington National Cemetery today. He died March 6 in Las Vegas at age 90.

"It was a privilege and an honor to be your daughter," Nancy Cannon Downey said at a memorial service at Fort Myer Memorial Chapel before the burial.

Cannon, a former Air Force Reserve major general, received honors reserved for the military's high-ranking officers. A 15-piece brass band and about 75 Air Force Honor Guard riflemen accompanied his caisson through Arlington's grassy expanse on a brilliant sunny day.

His flag-draped casket was pulled by six horses to section 64 of the cemetery. The plot is near the burial sites of victims killed in the Pentagon terrorist attack and in view of the Pentagon's reconstruction.

Bishop Douglas Hedger led a prayer at the burial site. Seven riflemen fired a three-round volley, and a lone bugler played Taps. The U.S. flag from Cannon's casket was neatly folded into a triangle, and Air Force Maj. Gen. Franklin "Judd" Blaisdell handed it to Cannon's daughter.

Hedger touched on some of the events from Cannon's life for which he likely will be remembered. Cannon in his early years was a saxophone player and used money he made as a musician to pay for flying.

Cannon became an Army pilot, was shot down in enemy territory during World War II and spent 42 days making his way back to safety with the help of Dutch farmers. At the memorial service, Cannon's son, Alan Howard Cannon, read the poem "High Flight" by John Gillespie Magee, which begins, "Oh, I have slipped the surly bond of earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings."

He is survived by his wife, Dorothy, daughter Nancy and son Alan and five grandchildren, all of whom attended today's services.