There was no mention last night of the troubled and violent way that little Cyrus Nainoa Tupa'i Belt died, but at his funeral Pastor Claudio Borge addressed the emotions swirling among the family, friends and strangers who came to mourn him.

"The question that arises in your heart is why," Borge told the overflow crowd of more than 200 at Nu'uanu Memorial Park & Mortuary. "We cannot know why. We have to move on."

Then Borge turned his attention to God and said, "Father, we don't understand all things."

Cyrus, who was just 23 months old, was killed last week when he was dropped from the Miller Street footbridge onto the H-1 Freeway and run over. His accused killer, Matthew M. Higa, was indicted by an O'ahu grand jury yesterday.

Two hours before the service, Cyrus' father, David Belt, arrived at the chapel. He was given permission by the Department of Public Safety to view his son's body because he is incarcerated at Waiawa Correctional Facility.

Belt cried as he was escorted away by law enforcement officers and was gone before the services began.

Cyrus' burial is scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday at Hawaiian Memorial Park in Kane'ohe.

Last night, his body was dressed in a black suit and lay in a small white coffin with white lace draped over the open casket.

Children and adults gently placed stuffed animals and lei around the coffin as a medley of Disney songs, such as "When You Wish Upon A Star," played over speakers.

Two posters were placed around the chapel depicting Cyrus' face floating among clouds, with the words, "May the Angels in Heaven Embrace You."

A blue, heart-shaped wreath near the coffin carried a ribbon that read, "My Beloved Baby Boy."

Raynelle Adams and her boyfriend, Eddie Montecillo, both of 'Aiea, were the first to arrive.

Like dozens of others who were touched by Cyrus' death, Adams and Montecillo did not know him or his family.

But they have made four or five visits to the impromptu memorial that sprang up on the overpass.

"I just wanted to say goodbye to Cyrus," Adams said as mourners trickled in. "I'm a complete stranger but he just touched me."

Montecillo said, "I just needed closure."

A FIRST FOR FIREFIGHTERS

The five firefighters of Kalihi's Engine 6 got special permission to temporarily be out of service to attend the nearly hourlong funeral last night — the first time any of the men have been to a funeral for a victim they treated.

A week after Cyrus' death, the firefighters were still struggling with what they saw at the scene of his death and decided as a group yesterday that they wanted to come.

"It was for ourselves for closure," Fire Department Capt. Greg Ikeda said. "We definitely wanted to honor Cyrus' life. I've been a firefighter for 16 years and I've been to stabbings and seen all kinds of things. But this one here definitely hit us hard. It left you with a sense of helplessness. ... I'm probably going to take a couple of more days off."

Firefighter Leroy Mulleitner has a 7-year-old son and said, "It's still pretty fresh. It definitely has hung with us. Anytime you're dealing with a child you get these emotions, but this one was tough."

Pastor Borge acknowledged the strangers who continue to bring flowers and teddy bears and good wishes to the overpass monument.

"They did not know who he was," Borge said. "They came from far and near to pay their respects and say, 'We care. We care.' "

During the service, about a dozen children bounced on their parents' laps. Others suckled on pacifiers and snuggled in sleepers with feet pajamas.

Several toddlers cried and were whisked outside.

Over the din of fussy children, Borge at times took a broader view of the seeming senselessness of Cyrus' death and offered conciliatory messages such as, "God so loved the world that he gave the world his only son."

Then just as quickly, Borge turned and said, "There's no 'ohana anymore. ... No more aloha. That's what's lacking."

And in between, he addressed the feelings shared among the grieving.

"I know in your heart there is animosity," Borge said. "There is anger. Don't let it take root. ... But forgiveness is not easy. It is not easy."

Reach Dan Nakaso at dnakaso@honoluluadvertiser.com.