thedrifter
03-18-09, 08:07 AM
Honoring a fallen Marine
By Suevon Lee
Staff Writer
Published: Wednesday, March 18, 2009 at 6:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, March 18, 2009 at 6:51 a.m.
OCALA - A funeral service incorporating elements borrowed from both military and Irish traditions drew about 100 friends and family members Tuesday to Blessed Trinity Catholic Church to honor a young Marine killed in Iraq last week.
The service for Lance Cpl. Patrick A. Malone, held fittingly on St. Patrick's Day, began with the sound of bagpipes accompanying the uniformed Marines who carried his casket into the church. A long procession of the serviceman's family members followed. Members of the Florida chapter of Patriot Guard Rider, a group of war veterans from all over the state, manned a flag line outside the church as guests filtered in.
Malone, a 2005 Vanguard High School graduate, was assigned to the 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Lejeune, N.C. The 21-year-old was killed March 10 in Anbar province from what the military called a non-hostile incident.
The young Marine's commitment to service, devotion to family and sense of humor were praised in remarks by friends, family members and fellow Marines.
"Patrick, from a little child, was anxious to serve," said the Rev. Patrick Sheedy, who presided over the hour-and-a-half ceremony that preceded a burial at Highland Memorial Park.
Sheedy said Malone was a voracious reader of spiritual and philosophy books, a fan of movies and video games, and "a dedicated family man."
An individual of mixed Puerto Rican and Irish descent, Malone grew up in New Jersey and aspired to be a Marine by following in the footsteps of his sister, Jennifer Hopper, a former Marine who led a Prayer of the Faithful during the service.
Malone's vehicle commander in Iraq said Malone "wasn't just a great Marine. He was a great man, uncle, son and a born leader."
Master Sgt. F.W. Smith, Malone's NJROTC instructor at Vanguard High, said Malone was a bright man who knew how to take a tense situation and lighten it up. "He was humorous," Smith said.
Anthony Piferrer, a senior at the University of Florida who was in ROTC with Malone at Vanguard, said Malone was a "really energetic" individual who served on the academic and arms drill teams.
"He was always a very lighthearted guy. He never took anything seriously, in a good way," said Piferrer, 21.
Multiple generations of Malone's extended family piled into the church Tuesday, with dozens of his young nephews and nieces gathering around his casket at one point during a presentation of gifts in the traditional Catholic service, including such music as "Ave Maria."
His sister, Andrea Pietronuto, recalled how her brother, a former Central Florida Community College student, could always bring the family together. "Patrick's death brought our families together," she said. "There are blessings that come with death."
The eclectic interests in Malone's life were on full display Tuesday as individuals ranging from his former karate instructor to family friends spoke in his memory. His karate instructor posthumously presented him with a black belt.
Malone joined the Marines in September 2007 and was deployed to Iraq in October 2008 as an anti-tank missileman.
The military said he was killed in a non-hostile incident. On Tuesday, a military spokesman said the investigation into his death was still ongoing.
More Photos:
Marine Lance Cpl. Patrick Malone
http://www.ocala.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=OS&Dato=20090317&Kategori=NEWS01&Lopenr=317009995&Ref=PH&show=galleries
Ellie
By Suevon Lee
Staff Writer
Published: Wednesday, March 18, 2009 at 6:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, March 18, 2009 at 6:51 a.m.
OCALA - A funeral service incorporating elements borrowed from both military and Irish traditions drew about 100 friends and family members Tuesday to Blessed Trinity Catholic Church to honor a young Marine killed in Iraq last week.
The service for Lance Cpl. Patrick A. Malone, held fittingly on St. Patrick's Day, began with the sound of bagpipes accompanying the uniformed Marines who carried his casket into the church. A long procession of the serviceman's family members followed. Members of the Florida chapter of Patriot Guard Rider, a group of war veterans from all over the state, manned a flag line outside the church as guests filtered in.
Malone, a 2005 Vanguard High School graduate, was assigned to the 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Lejeune, N.C. The 21-year-old was killed March 10 in Anbar province from what the military called a non-hostile incident.
The young Marine's commitment to service, devotion to family and sense of humor were praised in remarks by friends, family members and fellow Marines.
"Patrick, from a little child, was anxious to serve," said the Rev. Patrick Sheedy, who presided over the hour-and-a-half ceremony that preceded a burial at Highland Memorial Park.
Sheedy said Malone was a voracious reader of spiritual and philosophy books, a fan of movies and video games, and "a dedicated family man."
An individual of mixed Puerto Rican and Irish descent, Malone grew up in New Jersey and aspired to be a Marine by following in the footsteps of his sister, Jennifer Hopper, a former Marine who led a Prayer of the Faithful during the service.
Malone's vehicle commander in Iraq said Malone "wasn't just a great Marine. He was a great man, uncle, son and a born leader."
Master Sgt. F.W. Smith, Malone's NJROTC instructor at Vanguard High, said Malone was a bright man who knew how to take a tense situation and lighten it up. "He was humorous," Smith said.
Anthony Piferrer, a senior at the University of Florida who was in ROTC with Malone at Vanguard, said Malone was a "really energetic" individual who served on the academic and arms drill teams.
"He was always a very lighthearted guy. He never took anything seriously, in a good way," said Piferrer, 21.
Multiple generations of Malone's extended family piled into the church Tuesday, with dozens of his young nephews and nieces gathering around his casket at one point during a presentation of gifts in the traditional Catholic service, including such music as "Ave Maria."
His sister, Andrea Pietronuto, recalled how her brother, a former Central Florida Community College student, could always bring the family together. "Patrick's death brought our families together," she said. "There are blessings that come with death."
The eclectic interests in Malone's life were on full display Tuesday as individuals ranging from his former karate instructor to family friends spoke in his memory. His karate instructor posthumously presented him with a black belt.
Malone joined the Marines in September 2007 and was deployed to Iraq in October 2008 as an anti-tank missileman.
The military said he was killed in a non-hostile incident. On Tuesday, a military spokesman said the investigation into his death was still ongoing.
More Photos:
Marine Lance Cpl. Patrick Malone
http://www.ocala.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=OS&Dato=20090317&Kategori=NEWS01&Lopenr=317009995&Ref=PH&show=galleries
Ellie