thedrifter
09-16-06, 08:31 AM
He was one of ours
By MANNY GAMALLO World Staff Writer
9/16/2006
Tulsa mourns officer, Marine killed in Iraq
Metropolitan Tulsa came together as one community Friday to respect and pay tribute to the memory of Marine Cpl. Jared Shoemaker, who was killed Sept. 4 in Iraq.
More than 1,700 mourners packed the First United Methodist Church downtown, among them hundreds of police officers from Tulsa and across Oklahoma who came to honor one of their own.
Shoemaker, 29, a Marine reservist called into active duty in December, also was a Tulsa police officer.
To the soft organ music of "Ave Maria," Shoemaker's flag-draped oak casket was slowly wheeled into the sanctuary, led by a Marine and a Tulsa officer, and followed by police and Marine honor guards.
The Rev. R. Wade Paschal Jr. offered the eulogy, beginning with a sermon and followed by the singing of a hymn by all mourners.
Paschal said Shoemaker was not afraid to put himself in harm's way, whether it was fighting the enemy or putting handcuffs on someone.
The pastor told mourners that some people "choose to attack," while others choose to stand in their way.
"Jared was one of those who chose to stand in their
way," Paschal said.
"The blessing here is that we have such wonderful young men and women" who will sacrifice themselves for what they believe.
"Jared was one of these," he said.
Police Chief Dave Been called Shoemaker a remarkable young man, a person with a can-do attitude who was enjoyable to be around.
The chief noted that Shoemaker graduated from the police academy in June 2005, and that he was at the top of his class.
During the academy training, Been said, Shoemaker won a gold medal for fitness.
"We've lost a son, a husband, a friend and a fine officer," the chief said.
Video screens throughout the church offered mourners a slide presentation on Shoemaker's life.
It gave glimpses of him growing up from infancy to toddler, wearing Superman and Batman costumes, and playing with his brothers, Steve and Ben; pictures of him as he grew older, playing soccer, football and basketball; of his marriage to Kari, and finally images of him in uniform.
Shoemaker was a 1995 graduate of Edison High School, where he lettered for three years in football. Area coaches named him to the Oklahoma All-State Team.
He graduated from Northeastern State University with a degree in psychology and a minor in criminal justice. He also played football there.
Shoemaker was an avid rugby player, as well, and approximately 150 fellow rugby players attended his service.
His two brothers -- the older Steve and the younger Ben -- spoke at his service and reflected on his life, sharing with mourners more whimsical and lighter moments of growing up with him.
Ben Shoemaker said Jared always envisioned himself as the "Incredible Hulk," and that he wanted to be a superhero.
Looking down at his brother's casket, he said, "I'm so proud to have had you as my brother."
Steve Shoemaker thanked mourners for the support they have offered his family.
He told them his fallen brother was his best friend, and recounted how they played together, the days when they saw themselves as soldiers, and how they painted their faces in military camouflage.
He said his brother was a strong person -- physically, emotionally and mentally -- but he never used that attribute to intimidate others, only to save them.
He recounted the Saturdays the two of them spent together around their home, watching football games, and the fun they had.
"Saturdays will never be the same," he said.
More than 300 police cruisers, all part of the funeral procession, were jammed along Boulder Avenue between 10th and 13th streets.
Hundreds of law officers, joined by Marines and other service members, stood at attention as Shoemaker's casket was escorted from the church and placed in a white hearse after the hour-long service.
Part of the eastbound Broken Arrow Expressway had to be closed to make way for the 6-mile-long procession to Floral Haven Memorial Gardens in Broken Arrow.
As the procession exited the expressway at 51st Street, it was greeted by throngs of flag-waving residents, who crowded all four corners of the intersection of 51st Street and 129th East Avenue.
Both sides of 129th East Avenue were flanked by more residents bearing flags, and joining them were hundreds of workers who gave up their lunch hour to pay homage as Shoemaker's hearse proceeded slowly by them.
Many Tulsa-area motorists left their lights on in a show of respect.
As far as the eye could see, 129th East Avenue was filled with police cars in a single file, their light bars ablaze in flashing red and blue.
Near the entrance to the cemetery, dozens of Patriot Guard motorcycle-club members, flags waving beside them, stood in solemn tribute along both sides of the road.
The bikers snapped to attention as the procession, led by a dozen police motorcyclists, slowly turned into the cemetery.
It took the procession nearly 40 minutes to file into the cemetery, and many mourners were still arriving as the 25-minute ceremony was ending.
With an immense flag at half staff, surrounded by smaller flags snapping in the strong breeze, Shoemaker's coffin was escorted along a cemetery path flanked by honor guards.
Mourners were led in the Lord's Prayer, and that was followed by a Marine 21-gun salute.
Two buglers, one a Tulsa police officer and the other a Marine, played "Taps."
As a pair of bagpipers played "Amazing Grace," the blue sky above came alive with the thundering noise of approaching aircraft.
Two police helicopters first came in, with one of them peeling off to show respect for a fallen comrade.
Then two Marine helicopters approached, and one of them also flew away from the other.
Four military T-6 airplanes followed, again with one turning off as it passed over the assemblage.
The flag that had covered the casket throughout the service was ceremoniously folded by a Marine honor guard.
Been then presented the flag to Shoemaker's widow and softly offered her words of condolence.
Two dozen white doves were released during the ceremony in a show of spiritual freedom.
One dove broke from the flock and circled the coffin and mourners -- almost as in a final salute -- before flying away.
After the service, police officers and Marines gathered to console each other and discuss the life of the man, the friend they had known.
Shoemaker, who had been scheduled to come home in October, died when his armored vehicle was struck by a bomb during combat operations near Iraq's Anbar province.
He had been assigned to the 1st Battalion, 25th Marines, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force.
Master Sgt. Lanny Lehman, training chief at the Broken Arrow Marine TOW Anti-Tank Company, remembered Shoemaker well, calling him professional, outgoing and energetic.
"He was intensely focused. He had a set of goals and never lost focus of those goals," Lehman said.
Another training chief, 1st Sgt. Eugene Franklin, echoed Lehman's comments.
"He was one hell of a Marine," Franklin said. "That's why we made him Marine of the year last year."
Franklin said Shoemaker's name will take a place of honor at the Broken Arrow Marine center.
He said Shoemaker's name will be added to a memorial, joining two other members of that company to have died in the ongoing war in Iraq.
Franklin said the first member of the company to die was Cpl. Nathaniel T. Hammond, 24, formerly of Tulsa, who was killed on Nov. 8, 2004.
Sgt. James R. Graham III, 25, of Coweta, died on Aug. 1, 2005.
In addition to his brothers and his wife, Shoemaker is survived by his parents, Ken and Linda Shoemaker.
Manny Gamallo 581-8386
manny.gamallo@tulsaworld.com
Ellie
By MANNY GAMALLO World Staff Writer
9/16/2006
Tulsa mourns officer, Marine killed in Iraq
Metropolitan Tulsa came together as one community Friday to respect and pay tribute to the memory of Marine Cpl. Jared Shoemaker, who was killed Sept. 4 in Iraq.
More than 1,700 mourners packed the First United Methodist Church downtown, among them hundreds of police officers from Tulsa and across Oklahoma who came to honor one of their own.
Shoemaker, 29, a Marine reservist called into active duty in December, also was a Tulsa police officer.
To the soft organ music of "Ave Maria," Shoemaker's flag-draped oak casket was slowly wheeled into the sanctuary, led by a Marine and a Tulsa officer, and followed by police and Marine honor guards.
The Rev. R. Wade Paschal Jr. offered the eulogy, beginning with a sermon and followed by the singing of a hymn by all mourners.
Paschal said Shoemaker was not afraid to put himself in harm's way, whether it was fighting the enemy or putting handcuffs on someone.
The pastor told mourners that some people "choose to attack," while others choose to stand in their way.
"Jared was one of those who chose to stand in their
way," Paschal said.
"The blessing here is that we have such wonderful young men and women" who will sacrifice themselves for what they believe.
"Jared was one of these," he said.
Police Chief Dave Been called Shoemaker a remarkable young man, a person with a can-do attitude who was enjoyable to be around.
The chief noted that Shoemaker graduated from the police academy in June 2005, and that he was at the top of his class.
During the academy training, Been said, Shoemaker won a gold medal for fitness.
"We've lost a son, a husband, a friend and a fine officer," the chief said.
Video screens throughout the church offered mourners a slide presentation on Shoemaker's life.
It gave glimpses of him growing up from infancy to toddler, wearing Superman and Batman costumes, and playing with his brothers, Steve and Ben; pictures of him as he grew older, playing soccer, football and basketball; of his marriage to Kari, and finally images of him in uniform.
Shoemaker was a 1995 graduate of Edison High School, where he lettered for three years in football. Area coaches named him to the Oklahoma All-State Team.
He graduated from Northeastern State University with a degree in psychology and a minor in criminal justice. He also played football there.
Shoemaker was an avid rugby player, as well, and approximately 150 fellow rugby players attended his service.
His two brothers -- the older Steve and the younger Ben -- spoke at his service and reflected on his life, sharing with mourners more whimsical and lighter moments of growing up with him.
Ben Shoemaker said Jared always envisioned himself as the "Incredible Hulk," and that he wanted to be a superhero.
Looking down at his brother's casket, he said, "I'm so proud to have had you as my brother."
Steve Shoemaker thanked mourners for the support they have offered his family.
He told them his fallen brother was his best friend, and recounted how they played together, the days when they saw themselves as soldiers, and how they painted their faces in military camouflage.
He said his brother was a strong person -- physically, emotionally and mentally -- but he never used that attribute to intimidate others, only to save them.
He recounted the Saturdays the two of them spent together around their home, watching football games, and the fun they had.
"Saturdays will never be the same," he said.
More than 300 police cruisers, all part of the funeral procession, were jammed along Boulder Avenue between 10th and 13th streets.
Hundreds of law officers, joined by Marines and other service members, stood at attention as Shoemaker's casket was escorted from the church and placed in a white hearse after the hour-long service.
Part of the eastbound Broken Arrow Expressway had to be closed to make way for the 6-mile-long procession to Floral Haven Memorial Gardens in Broken Arrow.
As the procession exited the expressway at 51st Street, it was greeted by throngs of flag-waving residents, who crowded all four corners of the intersection of 51st Street and 129th East Avenue.
Both sides of 129th East Avenue were flanked by more residents bearing flags, and joining them were hundreds of workers who gave up their lunch hour to pay homage as Shoemaker's hearse proceeded slowly by them.
Many Tulsa-area motorists left their lights on in a show of respect.
As far as the eye could see, 129th East Avenue was filled with police cars in a single file, their light bars ablaze in flashing red and blue.
Near the entrance to the cemetery, dozens of Patriot Guard motorcycle-club members, flags waving beside them, stood in solemn tribute along both sides of the road.
The bikers snapped to attention as the procession, led by a dozen police motorcyclists, slowly turned into the cemetery.
It took the procession nearly 40 minutes to file into the cemetery, and many mourners were still arriving as the 25-minute ceremony was ending.
With an immense flag at half staff, surrounded by smaller flags snapping in the strong breeze, Shoemaker's coffin was escorted along a cemetery path flanked by honor guards.
Mourners were led in the Lord's Prayer, and that was followed by a Marine 21-gun salute.
Two buglers, one a Tulsa police officer and the other a Marine, played "Taps."
As a pair of bagpipers played "Amazing Grace," the blue sky above came alive with the thundering noise of approaching aircraft.
Two police helicopters first came in, with one of them peeling off to show respect for a fallen comrade.
Then two Marine helicopters approached, and one of them also flew away from the other.
Four military T-6 airplanes followed, again with one turning off as it passed over the assemblage.
The flag that had covered the casket throughout the service was ceremoniously folded by a Marine honor guard.
Been then presented the flag to Shoemaker's widow and softly offered her words of condolence.
Two dozen white doves were released during the ceremony in a show of spiritual freedom.
One dove broke from the flock and circled the coffin and mourners -- almost as in a final salute -- before flying away.
After the service, police officers and Marines gathered to console each other and discuss the life of the man, the friend they had known.
Shoemaker, who had been scheduled to come home in October, died when his armored vehicle was struck by a bomb during combat operations near Iraq's Anbar province.
He had been assigned to the 1st Battalion, 25th Marines, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force.
Master Sgt. Lanny Lehman, training chief at the Broken Arrow Marine TOW Anti-Tank Company, remembered Shoemaker well, calling him professional, outgoing and energetic.
"He was intensely focused. He had a set of goals and never lost focus of those goals," Lehman said.
Another training chief, 1st Sgt. Eugene Franklin, echoed Lehman's comments.
"He was one hell of a Marine," Franklin said. "That's why we made him Marine of the year last year."
Franklin said Shoemaker's name will take a place of honor at the Broken Arrow Marine center.
He said Shoemaker's name will be added to a memorial, joining two other members of that company to have died in the ongoing war in Iraq.
Franklin said the first member of the company to die was Cpl. Nathaniel T. Hammond, 24, formerly of Tulsa, who was killed on Nov. 8, 2004.
Sgt. James R. Graham III, 25, of Coweta, died on Aug. 1, 2005.
In addition to his brothers and his wife, Shoemaker is survived by his parents, Ken and Linda Shoemaker.
Manny Gamallo 581-8386
manny.gamallo@tulsaworld.com
Ellie