thedrifter
03-04-06, 07:50 AM
Marine McColley laid to rest
By JARRAD HEDES - Times Staff Writer
QUANTICO, Va.ó ìSome events, in order to get through, take strength. Saying goodbye is one of those events.î
Those words by U.S. Naval Officer Paul Hilliard opened the funeral of Marine Sgt. Jonathan Eric McColley, 23, Friday at Quantico National Cemetery in Virginia. Family and friends gathered as the Gettysburg native, who died Feb. 17 in a helicopter crash in the vicinity of Ras Siyya, northern Djibouti, was buried with full military honors.
Following the opening remarks, reading of scripture, a prayer, 21-gun salute and the playing of Taps, the United States burial flag was folded by a group of Marines and presented to McColleyís parents, John and Susan.
ìThis is a very appropriate setting to honor such a fine young Marine,î Hilliard said.
McColleyís parents decided on Quantico instead of Arlington National Cemetery as the burial place for Eric partly because it is solely a cemetery for Marines.
The funeral procession was escorted to Virginia from Kenworthy Funeral Home in Bonneauville Friday morning by a convoy of state police vehicles. The group was also flanked by nearly 25 Harley Davidson motorcycles driven by members of the Patriot Guard Riders.
ìThat was the most awesome thing I have ever seen,î said John McColley of the escort. ìEric really would have loved that.î
After the brief ceremony concluded, family and friends were given an opportunity to pay their final respects to McColley.
The local Marine was one of several service members killed in the training flight, as part of the U.S.-led Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa, a counterterrorism force. The group was attached to Marine Helicopter Squadron 464 based out of Marine Corps air station New River, N.C.
Services for Marine Capt. Bryan Willard, also killed in the crash, were held Thursday in New Kingstown, Pa.
McColley graduated from Gettysburg High School in 2000 and worked as a lifeguard, swim coach, and swim instructor at the Gettysburg YWCA before enlisting in the Marines. He was also involved with little league baseball, AYSO soccer and rock climbing.
During past periods of his service, McColley was stationed at Miramar, Calif. with the 101st Fighter Squadron; Okinawa, Japan with the MACs 36, and New River, N.C. with HMH 464, 461 and 263.
A large crowd attended a local memorial service held for McColley Sunday at Gettysburg
Rest In Peace
Ellie
By JARRAD HEDES - Times Staff Writer
QUANTICO, Va.ó ìSome events, in order to get through, take strength. Saying goodbye is one of those events.î
Those words by U.S. Naval Officer Paul Hilliard opened the funeral of Marine Sgt. Jonathan Eric McColley, 23, Friday at Quantico National Cemetery in Virginia. Family and friends gathered as the Gettysburg native, who died Feb. 17 in a helicopter crash in the vicinity of Ras Siyya, northern Djibouti, was buried with full military honors.
Following the opening remarks, reading of scripture, a prayer, 21-gun salute and the playing of Taps, the United States burial flag was folded by a group of Marines and presented to McColleyís parents, John and Susan.
ìThis is a very appropriate setting to honor such a fine young Marine,î Hilliard said.
McColleyís parents decided on Quantico instead of Arlington National Cemetery as the burial place for Eric partly because it is solely a cemetery for Marines.
The funeral procession was escorted to Virginia from Kenworthy Funeral Home in Bonneauville Friday morning by a convoy of state police vehicles. The group was also flanked by nearly 25 Harley Davidson motorcycles driven by members of the Patriot Guard Riders.
ìThat was the most awesome thing I have ever seen,î said John McColley of the escort. ìEric really would have loved that.î
After the brief ceremony concluded, family and friends were given an opportunity to pay their final respects to McColley.
The local Marine was one of several service members killed in the training flight, as part of the U.S.-led Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa, a counterterrorism force. The group was attached to Marine Helicopter Squadron 464 based out of Marine Corps air station New River, N.C.
Services for Marine Capt. Bryan Willard, also killed in the crash, were held Thursday in New Kingstown, Pa.
McColley graduated from Gettysburg High School in 2000 and worked as a lifeguard, swim coach, and swim instructor at the Gettysburg YWCA before enlisting in the Marines. He was also involved with little league baseball, AYSO soccer and rock climbing.
During past periods of his service, McColley was stationed at Miramar, Calif. with the 101st Fighter Squadron; Okinawa, Japan with the MACs 36, and New River, N.C. with HMH 464, 461 and 263.
A large crowd attended a local memorial service held for McColley Sunday at Gettysburg
Rest In Peace
Ellie