thedrifter
03-17-07, 09:34 AM
03/17/2007
FALLEN MARINE MOURNED
BY ROGER DUPUIS II
STAFF WRITER
CLARKS GREEN — Friends, relatives and strangers alike braved winter’s treachery Friday to pay respects to Lance Cpl. Dennis J. Veater.
“Take away friends and family, and you’d still have half of these people,” an appreciative Donald Veater said, looking around the Church of St. Gregory at those who had come to honor his son, a 20-year-old U.S. Marine killed March 9 in Iraq’s Al Anbar province.
Friday’s viewing at St. Gregory’s was attended by Marines, of course: volunteers from Lance Cpl. Veater’s home base, the Marine Forces Reserve’s Wing Support Squadron 472, Wing Support Group 47, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing at Wyoming in Luzerne County.
“No, it’s never easy,” said Gunnery Sgt. Aaron VanNostrand, the man in charge of all those somber Marines, who turned out resplendent in their dress uniforms, shoes gleaming even after trudging through the snow.
“This is what we do. This is how we honor our fallen,” Gunnery Sgt. VanNostrand said. “We make sure he’s taken care of.”
Two at a time, they took turns standing vigil beside Lance Cpl. Veater’s casket, as they will, night and day, until he is buried. His funeral Mass is scheduled to proceed, as planned, at 11 a.m. today in St. Gregory’s. Burial in Valley View Cemetery, Montdale, will be postponed — several days, perhaps — because of the snow.
Icy roads did not, however, stop mourners from turning out Friday.
A group of mostly gray-haired VFW members, survivors of wars past, held a brief memorial service for the young man, complete with “The Marines’ Hymn,” which brought the mourners to their feet.
The Patriot Guard Riders, a group of veterans formed to provide motorcycle escorts for military funerals all over America — initially to shield them from protesters — also paid their respects. They came wearing special patches made for the occasion, complementing vests already emblazoned with badges commemorating other fallen warriors whose families they have served since the group was created in August 2005.
There were the visits, flowers and condolences from scores of other people, including the UPS driver whose route serves the Veater family home.
“Even my dentist sent flowers,” Mr. Veater said with a smile.
In addition to his parents, Donald and Donna, Lance Cpl. Veater leaves behind his fiancee, Angalene Snipes, 21, and their son, 14-month-old Dominick; and five siblings, including a twin brother, Adam Veater.
The young Marine was due home next Wednesday to plan his wedding, scheduled for May 26.
Several photo boards stood near the church’s entrance, lovingly assembled by family members. There, in colorful snapshots, unfolded an entire life: little Dennis in baseball gear, the teenager clowning around on family vacations, daddy Dennis holding his son, and finally, Lance Cpl. Veater, standing proud in the uniform of his country.
Admiring the photos, Gunnery Sgt. VanNostrand fondly remembered Dennis as good-natured and humorous, a trait family members said had been his hallmark from his toddler days on up.
“He was always funny,” said Gunnery Sgt. VanNostrand. “He was a good Marine, but you never knew what you were going to get with him.”
But a photo which may stick with mourners longest is one some will be carrying away from today’s funeral on their lapels.
Mr. Veater found a company in Texas that was able to produce 100 buttons showing his son in uniform.
As fate would have it, the proprietor lost his daughter in Iraq, Mr. Veater learned. The vendor got the order produced and shipped to Pennsylvania in just 48 hours.
“I tried several times to give him a credit card number,” Mr. Veater said. “He didn’t want to take it.”
Contact the writer: rdupuis@timesshamrock.com
Ellie
FALLEN MARINE MOURNED
BY ROGER DUPUIS II
STAFF WRITER
CLARKS GREEN — Friends, relatives and strangers alike braved winter’s treachery Friday to pay respects to Lance Cpl. Dennis J. Veater.
“Take away friends and family, and you’d still have half of these people,” an appreciative Donald Veater said, looking around the Church of St. Gregory at those who had come to honor his son, a 20-year-old U.S. Marine killed March 9 in Iraq’s Al Anbar province.
Friday’s viewing at St. Gregory’s was attended by Marines, of course: volunteers from Lance Cpl. Veater’s home base, the Marine Forces Reserve’s Wing Support Squadron 472, Wing Support Group 47, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing at Wyoming in Luzerne County.
“No, it’s never easy,” said Gunnery Sgt. Aaron VanNostrand, the man in charge of all those somber Marines, who turned out resplendent in their dress uniforms, shoes gleaming even after trudging through the snow.
“This is what we do. This is how we honor our fallen,” Gunnery Sgt. VanNostrand said. “We make sure he’s taken care of.”
Two at a time, they took turns standing vigil beside Lance Cpl. Veater’s casket, as they will, night and day, until he is buried. His funeral Mass is scheduled to proceed, as planned, at 11 a.m. today in St. Gregory’s. Burial in Valley View Cemetery, Montdale, will be postponed — several days, perhaps — because of the snow.
Icy roads did not, however, stop mourners from turning out Friday.
A group of mostly gray-haired VFW members, survivors of wars past, held a brief memorial service for the young man, complete with “The Marines’ Hymn,” which brought the mourners to their feet.
The Patriot Guard Riders, a group of veterans formed to provide motorcycle escorts for military funerals all over America — initially to shield them from protesters — also paid their respects. They came wearing special patches made for the occasion, complementing vests already emblazoned with badges commemorating other fallen warriors whose families they have served since the group was created in August 2005.
There were the visits, flowers and condolences from scores of other people, including the UPS driver whose route serves the Veater family home.
“Even my dentist sent flowers,” Mr. Veater said with a smile.
In addition to his parents, Donald and Donna, Lance Cpl. Veater leaves behind his fiancee, Angalene Snipes, 21, and their son, 14-month-old Dominick; and five siblings, including a twin brother, Adam Veater.
The young Marine was due home next Wednesday to plan his wedding, scheduled for May 26.
Several photo boards stood near the church’s entrance, lovingly assembled by family members. There, in colorful snapshots, unfolded an entire life: little Dennis in baseball gear, the teenager clowning around on family vacations, daddy Dennis holding his son, and finally, Lance Cpl. Veater, standing proud in the uniform of his country.
Admiring the photos, Gunnery Sgt. VanNostrand fondly remembered Dennis as good-natured and humorous, a trait family members said had been his hallmark from his toddler days on up.
“He was always funny,” said Gunnery Sgt. VanNostrand. “He was a good Marine, but you never knew what you were going to get with him.”
But a photo which may stick with mourners longest is one some will be carrying away from today’s funeral on their lapels.
Mr. Veater found a company in Texas that was able to produce 100 buttons showing his son in uniform.
As fate would have it, the proprietor lost his daughter in Iraq, Mr. Veater learned. The vendor got the order produced and shipped to Pennsylvania in just 48 hours.
“I tried several times to give him a credit card number,” Mr. Veater said. “He didn’t want to take it.”
Contact the writer: rdupuis@timesshamrock.com
Ellie