Indiana memorials honor O'Bannon

Thousands of Hoosiers gathered at the steps of the Statehouse Friday to remember Gov. Frank O'Bannon as a statesman who never lost his Hoosier touch.\nThe solemn service began at noon and lasted a little more than an hour, celebrating O'Bannon's spirit in speeches by Gov. Joe Kernan and Sen. Evan Bayh.\nKernan, sworn in one week ago, said he'd never forget the twinkle in O'Bannon's smile.\n"You can't fake the twinkle," he said.\nAnd he proposed an answer to that age old Indiana question: What is a Hoosier?\n"I think we all know it's Frank O'Bannon," he said. "He was the prototype of all the good things we aspire to be: friendly to all, hardworking, authentic, not flashy, just steady."\nO'Bannon's greatest legacy, eulogized Bayh, is the kind of man he was. \n"He was always a source of inspiration, encouragement and sound advice," Bayh said.\nHe listed O'Bannon's major accomplishments as setting higher academic standards, providing better health care for the poor and building the White River State Park and State Museum. \nIn the quieter moments of music and prayer, politicians and citizens grieved together.\nDavid Baker's Trio performed an original composition Baker wrote in honor of the governor, and a group of Indianapolis school children played "Back Home Again in Indiana" on ukulele.\nLater, O'Bannon received a 19-gun salute from the Indiana Honor Guard, and 24 white doves were released into the gray sky.\n"This was the perfect public end to the tragedy," said U.S. Congressman Mike Pence. "It reflected O'Bannon's charm. He was a very good man, and you couldn't help but be fond of him."\nWhen the service ended, the governor's widow, Judy, led her family as they filed into the Statehouse. At the top of the steps, she paused to look back at the crowd, which stretched far back into Government Way. She took out her digital camera, snapped a picture, and gave a thumbs up -- a touching finale from a woman who gave the state so much strength during the past two weeks. \n"Judy has just been the rock of Gibraltar," Baker said. "My prayers are with her."\nIU trustee Steve Ferguson said Hoosiers needed the service to begin moving forward.\n"It's been unreal up until now," Ferguson said. "This helped bring a little closure."\nSpeaker of the Indiana House Pat Bauer said the service was "uplifting."\n"It was the most moving ceremony I've experienced in my 33 years here," he said. "It embodied (O'Bannon's) mortal life and his spirit and how it soared."\n-- Contact senior writer Adam VanOsdol at avanosdo@indiana.edu.