Nov 14, 2009 8:09 pm US/Central
Local Fort Hood Victim Laid To Rest
Michael Pearson, 22, Remembered As A Talented Musician At Funeral Service
JOLIET, Ill. (CBS) ―
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A flag-draped casked containing the body of Fort Hood victim Michael Pearson awaits burial at a military cemetery in Joliet.
CBS
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Pfc. Michael Pearson was killed on the Fort Hood Army base Nov. 5, 2009.
AP
Hundreds of mourners on Saturday remembered a 22-year-old suburban Chicago soldier killed at Fort Hood as a courageous person, quiet observer and naturally talented musician who shared his love of guitar with all.
As funeral services began for Pfc. Michael Pearson, of Bolingbrook, a lone electric guitarist played a mournful rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner." Hundreds crammed into at Fred C. Dames Funeral Home in Joliet where Pearson's casket sat draped by an American flag.
"He was a special human being with a love of music," said Bolingbrook Mayor Roger Claar.
Pearson was among 13 people killed and dozens who were wounded in the Nov. 5 attack at the Texas army base. Army psychiatrist Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan has been charged with 13 counts of premeditated murder in a military court.
Also killed was 21-year-old Pvt. Francheska Velez of Chicago, who had recently returned from deployment in Iraq because she was pregnant. Funeral arrangements for Velez were pending.
Pearson joined the Army in September 2008, after he quit what he thought was a dead-end furniture company job. Family members have said he hoped to broaden his horizons while serving his country.
"His older brothers were both in the service, and he looked up to them," a childhood friend, Stephen Ziolkowski, said. "They were a big influence on his life and he wanted to be just like them."
"He loved his country more than he loved himself," said Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, who attended the service. "He wanted to serve and protect our democracy."
Sobs could be heard throughout the funeral parlor and in an overflow room where families watched the services on a television monitor. Other televisions flashed childhood pictures of the soldier who was also known for writing poetry and giving impromptu guitar lessons.
"He enjoyed making people happy with music," said Scott Lorich, Pearson's former guitar teacher. "He was doing music theory as a hobby. He loved it that much."
Lorich said Pearson had enrolled in his beginning guitar class at Bolingbrook High School, even though his skills far exceeded the skills of others in the class, including the teacher.
To honor Pearson, a $1,000 scholarship was been established at the high school where Pearson graduated in 2006. Bolingbrook officials said a picnic shelter near village offices would bear Pearson's name.
On the day of the shooting at Fort Hood, Pearson had been waiting in line to get a booster shot at a processing center, his brother Kristopher Craig said.
Pearson had been trained to deactivate bombs and was scheduled to be deployed to Afghanistan in January.
"We are left with wonderful memories," his brother said during a teary-eyed eulogy.
More than 100 motorcycles bearing American flags, led the procession to Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in nearby Elwood, where Pearson was buried with full military honors under a cloudy sky early Saturday evening. Hundreds gathered by the casket as gun shots were fired in salute and a bugle played "Taps."
The honor guard fired three volleys. Three spent shell casings were placed inside the folded flag and presented to his mother. Each casing represents duty, honor and country.
The Associated Press and CBS 2's Suzanne Le Mignot contributed to this report.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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