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Evergreen Park Honors Fallen Soldier

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Nov 5, 2009 5:05 pm US/Central

Evergreen Park Honors Fallen Soldier

Army Spc. Jared Stanker Was Killed By Roadside Bomb In Afghanistan

Reporting
Mike Puccinelli

EVERGREEN PARK, Ill. (CBS) ―

Click to enlarge 1 of 1: Jared Stanker
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Two loved ones of Army Spc. Jared Stanker wept openly Thursday while leaning on one another on South Pulaski Road as they paid tribute to the fallen soldier.

Stanker was killed by a roadside bomb last month in Afghanistan. Last week, President Barack Obama saluted Stanker and the bodies of 17 of his fellow soldiers as their caskets arrived at Dover Air Force Base.

On Thursday it was his hometown's turn to pay tribute.

Led by law enforcement vehicles, with their lights flashing, the young man from Evergreen Park was driven by the high school he graduated from just three years ago. More than 1,000 young men from Brother Rice High School greeted their recently fallen brother by forming an honor guard.

"We've lost a brother. But we came together to help each other out. That's Brother Rice. We're always here for each other," said senior Ryan Gyrion.

Brother Rice Principal and Vietnam veteran Jim Antos led the way. He lost buddies in Southeast Asia and now has lost his first student to war. That's why Thursday's welcome home was so tough to take.

"It's poignant and heartbreaking to know that they are truly home, but home is not here with us. So God bless 'em," said Antos.

Stanker's hearse stopped briefly in front of his former high school on Thursday. Matt Graczyk said it got him thinking about his own family members.

"I can understand the worry and the anxiety because I have family members in Afghanistan and Iraq," said Graczyk.

Brother Rice officials said Thursday's tribute was really for the family Stanker was forced to leave behind. The goal was to send a red, white and blue message that Stanker's was a life well-lived.

"It was quite moving for them to see that kind of support. To see that Jared didn't die in vain," said Brother Rice marketing director Brian Barkowski. "Jared died for a reason; to protect us and our freedom."

Stanker's visitation was scheduled from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday at Blake-Lamb Funeral home in Oak Lawn. The funeral was scheduled for Saturday at 10 a.m. at Queen of Martyrs Church in Evergreen Park.

Stanker had been in Afghanistan for four months. He is survived by his parents and a sister.

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