Marlon Jackson struggles to make a speech, supported by his family



Michael's eldest child Paris struggles to fight back the tears whilst paying tribute to her father

There was the golden casket, the tributes from the rich and famous, the overflowing crowds, the songs sung by the megastars, such as Mariah Carey, Stevie Wonder, Usher and Human Nature.

But it was the small moments in the service that were the most touching.

There was his brother, Marlon, talking about watching "The Three Stooges" with Jackson after school before being hustled off to a recording studio.

Magic joked about a time when he caught Jackson eating Kentucky Fried Chicken.

There was Brooke Shields, describing how she and Jackson, as kids, sneaked into Elizabeth Taylor's bedroom to see her wedding gown.

Shields recalled how Jackson's favorite song was an old-fashioned one, "Smile," written by Charlie Chaplin, who himself knew the bitter price of worldwide fame.

Then there was perhaps the saddest, most heartbreaking moment of all, when Jackson's young daughter, Paris, told the world through her tears that Jackson "Ever since I was born, daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine. And I just wanted to say I love him so much."

"Maybe now, Michael, they will leave you alone," Jackson's brother Marlon had said moments before Paris' brief, tragic moment at center stage. One after another,the King of Pop's loved ones stepped forward to make their case for Jackson as a misunderstood, harmless sweetheart who wanted only to heal the world.

"Wasn't nothing strange about your daddy," Reverend Al Sharpton told Paris and her two brothers, who were seated in the front row. "It was strange what your daddy had to deal with."