Fallen Hero: LCpl Jeremy Burris

On Wednesday, October 22, the Main Street of Liberty, Texas, was lined with people paying their respects to U.S. Marine Corps Lance Corporal Jeremy Burris as his funeral procession passed by.  

Business in the courthouse halted, schools let out and shops closed. The crowd waved hundreds of flags and two giant ones were draped from fire trucks.  

In a congressional speech, U.S. Rep. Ted Poe described how moved he had been to see weeping people salute or hold their hands over their hearts. 

"Burris was not afraid to die when he joined the Marines a year and a half ago. He told his youth minister he would rather die young while he could still give 100 percent. He was also an unapologetic person of faith."

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Corporal Jeremy Burris, 22, was killed October 8th in al-Anbar province. Minutes before his death, he rescued two soldiers wounded when a device exploded under their military vehicle. When Burris returned to the vehicle to retrieve equipment, another bomb detonated, killing him. 

  Within hours of his burial, Lance Corporal Burris' grave was desecrated - flower sprays were ripped apart, sentimental notes and posters were shredded, flags were torn down. 

 Liberty Police Chief Mike Cummings:

"It was obviously intentional. We don't know if someone did this for a stupid prank or they were anti-war or what."

To be 'anti-war or what' and to show disrespect for the flag, for the troops, and for their families is unfortunately acceptable to those whose very rights to do so are protected by those who are willing to die for those rights.

** UPDATE: October 25 **

 

Texas Police arrested Wallace DeBlanc on state felony charges of criminal mischief at a place of human burial and felony theft for stealing the flower wire stands from the gravesite. 

DeBlanc confessed and said that he stole the items so that he could resell them to florists. DeBlanc faces two years in jail and up to $20,000 in fines. 

 Perhaps his time could better be spent maintaining veterans' gravesites or working in a VA hospital, plus the fine - to be donated to the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation or the Wounded Warriors Barracks.

Requiescat In Pace, Marine