In his final political address before the 2007 General Election, former prime minister and then leader of the United National Congress, Basdeo Panday, said to his audience, "I remember my struggle to unite this country...I have no regrets. As I come to the end of a very long journey, I ask you to send me off in a blaze of glory."
Mr Panday, of course, did not get his wish then, as his party lost to the People's National Movement, thanks in part to the splitting of votes by the newly-formed Congress of the People.
Yesterday, though, Panday's former political rivals united with family, friends and well-wishers at the Southern Academy for the Performing Arts (SAPA) in San Fernando and at the Mosquito Creek's Shore of Peace to finally honour that 2007 wish.
The smooth flow of yesterday's farewell ceremonies was, first and foremost, a testament that despite our big political differences, there is more that unites than divides us.
That a party in government, which Mr Panday fought the most throughout his political career, took the lead in honouring him in conjunction with his family's wishes, speaks volumes of the maturing of our democracy.
Mickela Panday singled out Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Amery Browne for the depth of efforts that went into supporting the family, including returning them from Florida, where he died on New Year's Day.
Browne told Guardian Media that although the cost of the arrangements was significant, Mr Panday's contribution to T&T warranted it.
Minister Browne, too, pointed to how easy it was to work with the Panday family on the arrangements for the final send-off.
The National Security Ministry played a role in ensuring that thousands across the nation would get a chance to finally salute Mr Panday with gun carriage and military processions in Port-of-Spain and San Fernando, prior to Mr Panday's body lying in honour at the Parliament and SAPA.
Being the first state funeral under Hindu rites, the Panday family set a high standard in blending one of our country's most significant religious practices with the officialdom of the event.
The unique participation of female members of the family lighting the pyre was also a reflection of the man himself, an unorthodox politician who broke ground to become known for the first of many things.
In what was a day of unity and respect, however, came the antics of former minister of finance Karen Nunez-Teshiera and former Senate president Timothy Hamel-Smith, who jumped over SAPA's fence to gain entry into the event.
While the collaboration between the PNM Government and the Pandays reflected political maturity, the attention-seeking behaviour of these two prominent individuals was just the opposite and an unfortunate stain on what was otherwise a blaze of glory to send-off one of the most charismatic leaders in our country's history.