| The family of Army Cpl. Jaron D. Holliday — including his sister, Jada (left), 7; father, John Holliday; mother, Kelly Holliday; and brother Jeremiah, 9 — release doves Monday at his burial at Memorial Park Cemetery in Tulsa. Holliday, of Broken Arrow, was killed Aug. 4 in Iraq. |
| |
Last Modified: 8/14/2007 3:23 AM
The life of Cpl. Jaron Duvall Holliday is celebrated in a memorial service.
Family and friends who came together Monday to celebrate the life of Army Cpl. Jaron Duvall Holliday heard repeated testimonials to the young man's infectious smile and the spirit of joy he brought to other.
Mourners nearly filled the 800-seat Tulsa Bible Church on South Sheridan Road for the 3-1/2-hour service, which paid lasting homage to his belief in God and the selfless courage he showed in defense of the nation.
It wasn't a funeral in the ordinary sense, but "A Home-going Celebration" for Holliday, 21, of Broken Arrow, who was killed in Iraq on Aug. 4 when his vehicle struck a roadside bomb at Hawr Rajab, south of Baghdad.
He was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division at Fort Richardson, Alaska.
Two other soldiers from the same unit were killed with Holliday.
Ever since he was a youngster, Holliday dreamed of joining the military, and he enlisted in the Army two years ago.
He had been home-schooled, and graduated through the Christian Home Education
Fellowship of Oklahoma in 2004.
Friends, classmates and soldiers came together Monday to tell the Holliday family the impact he had on their lives.
Still recovering from a leg wound he suffered in Iraq, Army Spc. Juan Alcivar of New York told the Holliday family of the special qualities Jaron Holliday had.
Alcivar said he and Holliday did their basic training in Alaska, and remembered one day when the temperature was minus 58 degrees.
He said the soldiers stood around shivering when Holliday was the first to reach out with hugs to help warm their cold bodies.
"He had that kind of personality," Alcivar said. "That smile. That was Jaron. There was never a sad moment around him."
Through her tears, Mollie Putman of Indiana offered to help the Holliday family in any way she could.
She told the family her husband and Holliday were the best of friends in the Army, and how they vowed they would look after each other's family.
Her husband, Cpl. Cody Putman, 22, was killed in Iraq on April 12. He was also based at Fort Richardson.
Several clergymen who have known the Holliday family offered comforting words and kind remembrances of him.
Pastor Elisha Verge of Wichita, Kan., told the audience the Holliday family has moved from Kansas City to Milwaukee and then to Broken Arrow, and their sense of Christianity left a mark wherever they went.
Verge said Jaron Holliday went from having a Broken Arrow address to living on "Hallelujah Boulevard, around the corner from that glorious throne we'll all come one day to share."
"This young man," he said, "sacrificed his life for others."
Pastor Marshall Gordon with the Crossover Bible Church in Tulsa, where the Holliday family worships, told mourners that Jaron Holliday is in "the best place possible," and he urged them to rejoice in that thought.
Holliday's parents, Kelly and John Holliday, also spoke and thanked everyone for their kind words and encouragement.
John Holliday said his son was always able to turn a bad situation into a good one with his outpouring of love.
"I learned from him," the father said. "He didn't like to see people hurt," he said, telling mourners his son always rallied to the defense of the less fortunate.
"I'm going to miss him, our talks."
Then, looking down on the flag-draped coffin, John Holliday said, "Son, you did a good thing. You did good."
Kelly Holliday said the military was always part of her son's life.
"We're so very proud of our hero today," she said.
"Jaron," she said looking down at his casket, "you are truly my hero. You have finished strong."
Kelly Holliday, who has been diagnosed with cancer, received a standing ovation after she powerfully and passionately sang the hymn "It Is Well With My Soul" for the church.
Also receiving an unexpected standing ovation was Paul Andert, representing the World War II Veterans of Tulsa, in a presentation of a plaque honoring Holliday.
The Blue Star Mothers also honored the young soldier.
For his service in Iraq, Holliday was awarded the Bronze Star, as well as the Purple Heart.
Under blistering sunlight, mourners gathered at Memorial Park Cemetery, and watched in silence as a Fort Sill Army honor guard carried Holliday's coffin to its gravesite.
After a 21-gun salute and the playing of taps in tribute to Holliday, the honor guard ceremoniously folded the flag from his coffin.
The flag was presented to Kelly Holliday by Maj. Gen. Charlie Cartwright, commander of Future Combat Systems at St. Louis.
Doves were also released by John Holliday and his children.
In addition to his parents, Holliday is survived by a sister, Jada, and six brothers: John III, Joshua, Jeremiah, Josiah, Justus and Jamin.
Tulsa World Article
No comments:
Post a Comment