Daniel Morcombe returned to his family's care

Mourners, including his immediate family, wore red as requested to farewell Daniel Morcombe, who was last seen alive in December 2003.

News was publish today, 8th December 2012 by The Australian.au.

THE bereaved father of murdered teenager Daniel Morcombe has implored Australians not to feel sad about his son's funeral because Daniel has finally been returned to his family.

Nine years after the teenager vanished from the Sunshine Coast, a 2000-strong funeral of family, friends and complete strangers gathered at St Catherine of Siena Catholic Church to commemorate Daniel's life.

Daniel's father, Bruce Morcombe, said nine years ago, to the day, a "moment in time that will live with us forever" occurred when evil was visited on them.

"I appeal to you all, please do not be sad," Mr Morcombe said.

"Appreciate that the evil act which took Daniel happened a long time ago. Today is about embracing his return to family and being reflective of what might have been."

Daniel disappeared from the roadside while waiting for a bus to go Christmas shopping on December 7, 2003, sparking the country's biggest missing persons investigation. Yesterday, Australians watched on through a live telecast as a still-wrapped Christmas present from 2003, a report card and a school photo that Daniel never got the chance to receive were placed on his coffin by his parents, Bruce and Denise.

The stoic and gently relentless pair sat between Daniel's older brother Dean and Daniel's twin Bradley for the requiem mass.

But when the opening song played an ashen-faced Mrs Morcombe sobbed. Her husband quietly held her hand.

Daniel's white casket, topped with red roses -- the colour that has come to symbolise a child-protection foundation in his name -- was draped in a pall during the service. Later it was borne by his brothers through a 150m honour guard of former schoolfriends and current students.

In a eulogy Dean said his little brother was a gifted student who loved animals and motocross.

A video montage of Daniel's short life showed the progression from a baby, through childhood, then ominously on to SES search crews, police divers and Daniel's image on the side of a milk carton.

It concluded with the words of former Queensland police commissioner Bob Atkinson when Daniel's alleged killer was charged. "It's an answer. It's a very sad answer but it's an answer," Mr Atkinson said.

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