Snoqualmie Valley says goodbye to a fallen Marine
March 18, 2010
By Dan Catchpole
NEW — March 18, 2010
Hundreds of people lined Railroad Avenue and Meadowbrook Way holding American flags beneath a cloudy sky March 13 to pay tribute to Eric Ward, a 19-year-old Marine Corps lance corporal from Redmond and Mount Si High School graduate who died Feb. 21 in Afghanistan.
Ward was killed by an IED, an improvised explosive device, in southern Afghanistan, according to the U.S. Department of Defense. A machine-gunner, he was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force at Base Camp Lejeune, N.C.
The mourners included Snoqualmie Valley residents, veterans, Boy Scouts, active military members and others who came to pay tribute. Also joining the mourners was a contingent of Patriot Guard Riders, a motorcycle group that attends funerals of members of the U.S. Armed Forces at the invitation of the family.
Clad in riding leather, their members — which included several veterans — stood at attention at the entrance to Mount Si High School’s gym, where Ward’s memorial was held.
During the memorial, friends and family described him as a loving, generous man who could always bring a laugh to any room.
Trying to rekindle Ward’s humor, several speakers, such as Pvt. Trey Hoover, recalled antics and adventures they’d shared with him.
“He just made everything fun,” said Hoover, a fellow Marine who met Ward at boot camp.
Hoover, 19, recalled a 12-mile training march with 100-pound packs on. Despite the heat, Ward lightened the mood by singing Carrie Underwood’s “Cowboy Casanova,” he said.
That and other stories elicited pained laughs, but- hushed sobbing was the memorial’s one constant sound.
“He was a gift to this world,” said Serena Norris, Ward’s girlfriend. “Eric has shown us to fight for what we believe in, no matter the sacrifice.”
Andrew Ward, Eric’s older brother, asked people to share his positive attitude with the world.
“If that kid, that 19 year old, can bring this many people together in this room, take that strength, and continue to carry it on,” he said.
Other family members echoed that challenge.
“As you leave this room, I hope you honor Eric’s life, and then ask yourself how you’re going to honor your own,” his brother Gregory Ward said.
His father, Steven Ward, fought back tears as he paid homage to his son who followed in his footsteps by joining the Marines.
“You taught me that it’s really not the dates when we come and go that matter,” he said, reading from a letter he wrote to his son after learning he had died. “Just what we do in that space in between. You did a lot in yours.”
He recalled memories of Little League and football, and visiting his son the weekend before he deployed overseas.
“Eric, you are my Marine,” he said. “You’ll always be my hero.”
After the speakers had finished, a Marine contingent called roll. Three Marines from Ward’s unit were present. Their names were called and they stood up.
Ward’s name was called.
Silence.
His name was called a second time.
Silence.
A final time his name was called, and again, there was no reply.
Outside the gym, an honor guard fired a rifle salute. A Marine bugler played taps. And a folded U.S. flag was placed at the front of the gym, along with a pair of combat boots, an upended rifle, a pair of dog tags and a helmet.
Dan Catchpole: 392-6434, ext. 246, or editor@snovalleystar.com.
Comments
2 Responses to “Snoqualmie Valley says goodbye to a fallen Marine”
Got something to say?
Before you comment, please note:
- These comments are moderated.
- Comments should be relevant to the topic at hand and contribute to its discussion.
- Personal attacks and/or excessive profanity will not be tolerated and such comments will not be approved.
- This is not your personal chat room or forum, so please stay on topic.
[...] http://snovalleystar.com/2010/03/18/snoqualmie-valley-says-goodbye-to-a-fallen-marine [...]
May God continue to bless America and may we never forget the fallen American Heroes who go in harms way to keep us free.