Daniel Chaires laid to rest

CHAIRES - More than 1,000 people flocked to this small community east of Tallahassee today for the funeral of Marine Lance Cpl. Daniel Chaires, who was killed in combat in Iraq on Oct. 25.

A member of one of Leon County's pioneer families, Chaires, 20, was buried amid a moving ceremony that combined military pomp with Old South tradition. The funeral was held in the Chaires United Methodist Church, to which Chaires belonged all his life. His casket was loaded by a Marine color guard onto a horse-drawn wagon and carried to a grave behind his family home. The procession of mourners walking behind the wagon stretched the entire quarter mile between the church and home.

Three pastors, one of Chaires' older brothers and a one-time Marine delivered eulogies. Retired U.S. Navy Capt. Jim Whyte, who began his military career in the Marines, said Chaires' death from enemy gunfire was the essence of service in the Marine Corps.

"Daniel was not a victim of circumstances; this was no accident," Whyte said. "Instead of running for cover, Daniel chose to move as the point man through the kill zone. He willingly gave his most precious possession for his comrades.

"Thank God for Daniel Chaires. Let us never forget he did this for us."

Chaires is at least the sixth resident of Leon and surrounding counties to die in Afghanistan or Iraq.

From the Tallahassee Democrat

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