 "Photo: Erik Castro")
 "Photo: Erik Castro")
The light breeze that drifted through Texas State Cemetery Tuesday afternoon carried with it soft weeping of family, friends and colleagues of state Rep. Joe E. Moreno, D-Houston, who had gathered for his burial.
Moreno, 40, was killed early Friday morning in a one-vehicle accident in Fayette County. A visitation period, including a rosary and a public viewing, was held in Houston from Monday evening through Tuesday morning, preceding the 10 a.m. funeral Mass.
An estimated 2,000 people were present at Tuesday morning's ceremony. A band softly played traditional Mexican music as Moreno's casket was carried into the Catholic Charismatic Center.
Tuesday afternoon, a bagpipe sounded out the strains of "Amazing Grace," while a large crowd of politicians and civilians alike gathered to mourn Moreno.
"He made everything fun," said state Rep. Jessica Farrar, D-Houston, a close friend of Moreno's who gave the eulogy at his funeral Mass. "He made anything seem possible."
The interment ceremony featured traditional Roman Catholic prayers as well as the presentation of the state flag folded over Moreno's casket to his parents, Alicia and Frank Moreno, in honor of Moreno's service to Texas. Moreno's surviving family, including his parents, brother and sister, received condolences from the large crowd after the ceremony. People paying their respects to Moreno lined up to place yellow roses on his casket.
"I have lost a brother, the members of the House have lost a colleague, the people of Texas have lost a champion," said state Rep. Rick Noriega, D-Houston.
Moreno's fatal accident occurred when he and two colleagues were driving back to Austin after attending Thursday night's playoff game between the Houston Rockets and the Dallas Mavericks. According to officials, Moreno's pickup veered off Texas Highway 71 into a ditch and rolled over.
The other passengers, state Rep. Rafael Anchía, D-Dallas, and legislative aide Monica Piñon, were treated for injuries at Brackenridge Hospital. The cause of the accident remains under investigation.
Anchía was released with minor injuries, while Piñon underwent surgery on her hand and left ankle. She remains in stable condition at Brackenridge.
A Houston native, Moreno graduated from St. Thomas High School and went on to attend the University of St. Thomas and Texas Southern University. He was elected to the Texas Legislature as a representative of Houston's East Side in November 1998. During his tenure as legislator, Moreno received various awards, including "Legislator of the Year 2003" from the Justice of the Peace and Constables Association. At the time of his death, he was serving his fourth term in the Texas House.
Houston Mayor Bill White recalled Moreno's dedication for his work.
"Joe always had a lot of energy, and he loved public service. His life was a tribute to that," said White. "He fought the good fight, and he never forgot where he came from."
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