To a ceremonial 21-gun salute
To the reverberating boom of a ceremonial 21-gun salute, the late Lieutenant Colonel Alonzo Keith Theodore Hartley , Commanding Officer, 2 Infantry Battalion (Reserve) was interred Wednesday afternoon at the Le Repentir Cemetery, with full military honours.

The late Lt. Col.Alonzo Hartely’s mother is supported by two of her sons, Pastor Shane and Aubrey , as she tearfully views her son’s remains.

The burial of the former senior Army officer, who celebrated his 45th birthday on February 3 last, followed a service at the Queenstown Church of the Nazarene, Laluni and Irving Streets, Queenstown.

The late Lt. Col collapsed at Camp Ayanganna on May 27 last, shortly after playing a game of squash and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

The walls of the packed church resounded with choruses as those in attendance, including former heads of the GDF, senior and junior officers, other ranks, representatives of sister Joint Services organisations, the late officer’s mother, Elaine; wife, Delicia, two children, Zonel and Dexter; siblings and other relatives and friends celebrated his life.

Chief of Staff of the GDF, Commodore Gary Best, greets the late officer’s widow, Delicia, as she is flanked by her husband’s children, Zonel and Dexter

A farewell tribute by the widow in the rendition of a song, `Fill My Heart”, with assistance from Althea Jones, followed, as she said she only remembers the happy times with her husband.

Chief of Staff of the GDF, Commodore Gary Best; Lieutenant Colonel Khemraj Persaud; and one of the late officer’s siblings were among those who paid tributes.

The eulogy, which also gave a synopsis of the late officer’s military career and family life, was delivered by another bother, Pastor Shane Hartley.

Commodore Best observed that this year the Army had experienced its own fair share of death.

He remembered, too, his late officer as one who never shirked any responsibility given him, no matter how monumental the task, and as someone whose liking for anything relating to technology and science saw him giving Hartley the nickname `the scientist.

GDF officers flank the cortege bearing the remains of the late Lt. Col. Alonzo Hartley..

At the conclusion of the church service, conducted by Reverend Walter Woolford and Reverend Brentnol Bess, Chaplain of the GDF, a procession, comprising GDF officers in ceremonial dress, other ranks, relatives and friends, marched with the cortege to the cemetery for the final rites.
In accordance with military rites, the national standard which draped the casket along with the late officer’s medal were presented to the wife at the graveside.