By Carla Crowder
Denver Rocky Mountain News Staff Writer

One photograph showed Cassie Bernall as a tiny blond girl plopped into a Radio Flyer wagon. Others had her on a rocking horse, wobbly on ice skates, smiling through braces.

There she was, wearing an angel costume, all filmy white wings and silver halo, maybe 7 or 8. And there was Cassie catching a fish, her free arm flexed in an exaggerated muscle.

People around the world know Cassie as the Columbine student who died confessing her faith. Her killer asked her if she believed in God. She told him she did, then died at 17.

As Cassie's family reminded everyone at her funeral Monday, before she was a martyr, she was a kid.

Sweet, joyous photos of her doing normal kid stuff lined the front of West Bowles Community Church.

Her funeral was a celebration for a happy girl, not a dreary goodbye like funerals so often are.

"This is a graduation ceremony for Cassie," said the Rev. George Kirsten, pastor of the church.

"Cassie went to a martyr's death, and we're going to celebrate that because she's in the martyr's hall of fame."

Youth minister Dave McPherson called the service a wedding. Christ is the groom and "on the 20th he returned for Cassie."

"So why do we cry? Because we weren't invited to the wedding. It took place in heaven," McPherson said.

Nineteen years ago, Kirsten performed the wedding ceremony for Cassie's parents, Brad and Misty Bernall.

Monday, he spoke to nearly 2,500 people gathered to remember their firstborn child and only daughter. They lined the walls, crouched on the carpet and poured into the parking lot of the south Jefferson County church.

It was worth it. Along with the ministers who spoke, the crowd got a message from a special guest, Cassie herself. Two days before she died, Cassie had a part in a church video where teens spoke of their faith.

"I just try to not contradict myself, to get rid of all the hypocrisy and just live for Christ," she said, her radiant face smiling larger-than-life on a huge video screen.

She had no way of knowing she'd soon be known worldwide as the Colorado girl who died for Christ.

"What the church has talked about for 2,000 years, what every church in this world has talked about on a daily basis, Cassie, you did it," McPherson said.

And still more pictures, broadcast on the giant screen.

Cassie hoola-hooping. Cassie climbing rocks. Cassie wearing a tiny gold cross around her neck.

Like some of the 11 other students killed in the Columbine tragedy, Cassie was placed in a white casket her friends and family could sign.

Her mother, Misty Bernall, was one of the first:

"Bunny Rabbit, my friend, my buddy, my daughter, my mentor. I will love you and miss you forever. I promise to take good care of your kitty. I know that Jesus is elated to have you in His presence."

On the far side of the huge spray of white roses was this note: "Cassie, I love you. You are the best baby-sitter, Love Katelyn."

Church member Kim Elder spent part of the service trying to help her freckle-faced 5-year-old boy understand what was going on.

"See that pretty white box with the writing, that's a casket," Elder told Michael.

"Are they gonna have that for everyone that got shot?" Michael asked.

"Well, a bunch of the churches in our neighborhood are having services for the kids," Elder told her boy.

McPherson left the crowd with this: "The ball is in your court now. What impact will her martyred life have on you?"

In one of the last photos taken, Cassie's putting on lipstick. A graceful, elegant young woman, she has her hair pulled back in curls. Her mother is peeking into the camera, smiling and zipping up her daughter's gown. They look just alike.

Misty Bernall's message on the casket ends:

"Your courage and commitment to Christ have gained you a special place in heaven, and I am proud to call you my daughter. I love you so much, Mom."