Cody (Kristopher C.) Warren laid to rest

The different uniforms Kristopher Cody Warren donned in life were on prominent display Sunday as mourners packed a Calhoun, Ga., church to pay their final respects to the 19-year-old Marine.

Off to one side, in royal blue, were members of the Gordon Central High School marching band, which Lance Cpl. Warren led as drum major his junior and senior years. Behind the altar in black and white sat members of the Gordon Central Corale, in which he was a tenor.

At the front of the church, along with family, were U.S. Marines from Mike Battery, a Chattanooga-based battalion to which Lance Cpl. Warren belonged when he died in a nonhostile incident in Iraq earlier this month.

Although Lance Cpl. Warren's leadership abilities were clear at his high school, family friend Johnny Weaver said the profound effect the Marines had on his life was evident as soon as he returned from boot camp with a different air about him.

"When (Cody's father) asked Cody one time, 'When are you going to start talking like the normal Cody?,' he said 'Never, dad; I'm a Marine," Mr. Weaver said.

The service was moved to Trinity Baptist Church to accommodate all of the mourners and was followed by burial at the Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, Ga.

Speakers at the service described Lance Cpl. Warren as "just a little" mischievous. But mostly he was selfless: Mr. Weaver said that after asking his family for socks and Pedialyte, he ended up giving some of the socks to his bunkmate. He gave all the of Pedialyte away to Iraqi children who needed it more, Mr. Weaver said.

"His death was sacrificial," Mr. Weaver said. "He died serving his country."

The Rev. Don Walters, pastor of Echota Baptist Church where Lance Cpl. Warren was baptized in 2003, was among the speakers. In his last Sunday at the church, Lance Cpl. Warren sang "a song about family" and showed his playful side, leaving a message spelled out in toothpicks for someone to discover later.

Neal Crawford, Lance Cpl. Warren's high school band director, praised his leadership as drum major and talked about his passion for the saxophone, which he picked up at a young age. Mr. Crawford played a saxophone solo and said Lance Cpl. Warren's life offered a lesson.

"Don't just stand on the sidewalk and watch the parade go by," Mr. Crawford said.

Standing guard outside the church before the service were more than 100 members of the Patriot Guard Riders, a group of bikers who, at the request of the family, provide a shield from any protesters who might attend. On Sunday, they waved large American flags in the parking lot of the church.

Nick Petty, a national staff member of the group, said there were concerns a group of protesters was planning to attend, although that didn't happen at the church. His group recognizes the protesters' rights, he said, but it tries to prevent interruptions.

"When it gets out of hand, we take care of that," Mr. Petty said.

More than a dozen Marines from Mike Battery were at the service. Also in attendance was Pfc. Cory Young, who wore a khaki green uniform. He said Lance Cpl. Warren didn't need to be directing a band or in a Marines outfit to inspire others.

"He's just one of those people who if you saw him, you'd say, 'I'll follow his leadership,' " Pfc. Young said.

Pfc. Young, 18, said he joined Mike Battery a couple of weeks ago, only to find out Lance Cpl. Warren had been killed. Pfc. Young said his decision to join the Marines has been tough on his family, as it would any family. So far they haven't discussed it much, he said.

Standing next to Pfc. Young was Stephen Mashburn, 19, who also went to high school with Lance Cpl. Warren.

"When you think of a Marine, Cody Warren is the name that comes to mind," Mr. Mashburn said. "He's the best definition of a Marine I can think of."

From the Free Press

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