Posted on 08/14/2003 8:38:45 PM PDT by stainlessbanner
An Elba hero was laid to rest Sunday afternoon after more than 550 people filed into the small Baptist church and fellowship hall in the Victoria community to pay their final respects to soldier Jason Jordan and his family.
Some people said they came to the memorial service because the hometown boy had made the ultimate sacrifice for his country; some came because they had known Jordan all their lives; and some came because they worked with Jordan or a family member. Whatever the reason they attended, people braved the humid temperatures of the hot summer afternoon to bid their native son goodbye.
Jordan, a member of the 101st Airborne Division, was killed July 20 in Iraq, along with his best friend Sgt. Justin Garvey, when they were attacked with grenades and small arms fire. Both were assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, from Fort Campbell, Ky.
He was the son of William "Danny" and Sandra Olene Jordan of Elba. Jordan, now resting in the beloved land he called Dixie, said the Rev. Mack King, was finally home.
King, who gave the eulogy for the afternoon service, said "Jason grew up in Elba and he was proud to be from the South. Whenever anyone asked him where he was from, he always replied, 'I'm from Dixie.'"
As the first song of the service "Dixie" was played, mourners wiped their eyes to hear the verse "to live and die in Dixie," which King said was the song most fitting to Jason and what he would have wanted. King, a lifelong friend of the family, said he knew Jason well and watched him grow up.
"The most important decision Jason ever made was accepting Jesus as his Lord and Savior. Today, life goes on for Jason in another world - a place of freedom, a place of justice, a place of democracy, and a place where there is no more war. Jason gave us all. Thank you Jason."
Designated pews inside the church were filled with Jordan's classmates and firefighters who work with Jordan's father at Fort Rucker. Other pews inside the church and fellowship hall were filled with family members and friends. Others stood outside the church to hear services over loud speakers.
King told them to remember the good times. "Keep your memories close and Jason will always be with us."
As the honor detail from the U.S. Army Aviation Center at Fort Rucker removed Jordan's flag-covered casket from the church to the graveside across the road, "God Bless the USA," played as family members and friends walked behind.
Brig. Gen. Edward Sinclair, representing the Army chief of staff and deputy commanding general at Fort Rucker, presented Jordan's family with the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart Medal, and Combat Infantryman Badge.
Sinclair, also the deputy commanding general of the 101st Airborne Division during Operation Iraqi Freedom, announced the presentation of the Distinguished Service Medal and a commendation by Gov. Bob Riley. State Rep. Terry Spicer also presented the family Sunday morning with a flag that flew over the state's capital.
Members from Jordan's unit from Fort Campbell presented the family with the American flag over the casket.
1st Sgt. Jimmy Clouse, the senior enlisted man from Jordan's company, came from Iraq for the funeral.
Clouse said Jordan was "a dedicated soldier" and during his five years of service to the nation, Jordan received a number of awards and decorations, including the Army Commendation Medal; the Army Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters; the Army Good Conduct Medal; the National Defense Service Medal; the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; the NCO Professional Development Ribbon; the Army Service Ribbon; the Overseas Service Ribbon; the Expert Infantry man Badge; the Air Assault Badge; and Expert marksmanship badges for the M16 rifle and hand grenade.
In honor of Jordan and his father, a shift supervisor and firefighter with the Lowe Army Heliport Fire Station at Fort Rucker, a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter gave a fly-by salute near the end of the memorial service. Frank Chirico, family friend, gave a statement from the family after the services, stating that they "are very proud of what Jason was able to accomplish during his life here on earth. We take great pride in Jason's patriotism, his love of our country and his decision to serve this great nation of ours in the United States Army. Jason strongly believed in what he was doing, serving in the armed forces to keep America safe and strong. He was helping to bring freedom and democracy to an oppressed people and put an end to a dictatorship that threatened the peace and stability of the world."
The statement from the family also offered condolences to the Garvey family of Townsend, Mass., whose son Justin died with Jordan in the attack. Family members said Jordan and Garvey were best friends.
Jordan, a 1997 graduate of Elba High School, was an honor student and member of the Beta Club and Math Club. After graduation Jordan attended Enterprise State Junior College for one year, where he began studies for a degree in chemical engineering. Jordan was also a certified lifeguard, open water scuba diver and a black belt in Tae Kwon Do.
In June 1998, Jordan enlisted in the United States Army and upon his graduation, he was assigned to duty in Korea. After completing a one-year tour, Jordan was re-assigned in January 2000 to the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kansas. During this tour with the Mortar Platoon, 1st Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, he was deployed with his unit to Kuwait from August to December 2001. He was promoted to sergeant in September 2001 and assumed the duties of squad leader within his unit.
In July 2002, Jordan was re-assigned to the 101st Airborne Division and deployed March 1, 2003 to Kuwait in preparation for Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Members of Jordan's immediate family include a brother and sister-in-law, Christopher and Marsha Jordan of Elba; nephews Blake and Caleb Jordan of Elba and niece Montana Jordan of Elba; paternal grandparents H. L and Virginia Jordan of Elba; maternal grandparents Sam and Irene Davis of Elba.
(photo):Hundreds of people line up in silence behind the remains of Jason Jordan as the honor detail from Fort Rucker carry the soldier to his final resting place at Victoria Baptist Church cemetery Sunday afternoon.
Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send,
and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
(Isaiah 6:8)
Rest with honor, Jason. May the Almighty watch over yours just as you have watched over ours. Thank you.
Honoring Justin Sgt. Justin Wrisley Garvey February 28, 1980 - July 20,2003
It is not the editor who gives you freedom of speech - IT IS THE VETERAN.
It is not the radical, or the Congressman who gives you freedom to assemble - IT IS THE VETERAN.
Lastly - sadly - IT IS THE VETERAN (not the judge or legislator) who saluted the flag, who followed the flag into battle, and is always buried under that flag - IT IS THE VETERAN who gives you the right to burn that flag!
Or more succinctly put - "Makin mock of uniforms that guard you while you sleep,
Is cheaper than them uniforms - and they're starvation cheap." - Rudyard Kipling
Yeah, cause those same U.S. troops were raping, robbing, and killing southern civilians.
You make a career around here of trashing the memory of those soldiers who deserve honor while glorifying those who don't simply because of the side they served on.
Bump. NS is proof that one can disagree about positions, but still remain a gentleman. Unlike the common troll.
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