Brent Beeler laid to rest

Two by two, they filed to Lance Cpl. Brent Beeler's flag-draped casket at Napoleon High School on Monday and saluted ever so slowly.

Some were in uniform, and others wore street clothes. Some were old veterans well past their fighting prime, and others were young and fit. In all, 70 present and former members of the military lined up to salute Beeler in his open casket as 300 more mourners watched in silence.

Slow salutes were the solemn climax of a ceremony that followed four hours of visitation for Beeler, a 22-year-old Marine from Napoleon killed Dec. 7 in Iraq.

"Lance Cpl. Beeler stood his ground and never wavered. He stood his watch as a true Marine," said Gene Osborn, commandant of the Marine Corps League detachment in Onsted.

Beeler will be buried today after a 1 p.m. funeral at Grace Baptist Church, 2692 N. Dettman Road.

An estimated 850 friends, relatives, dignitaries and strangers passed through the high school auditorium Monday for the visitation.

Two stone-faced Marines stood at each end of Beeler's casket as mourners paid respects. On the opposite wall of the auditorium, a continuous slide show displayed photographs of Beeler's life from infancy.

A hallway display case contained items from Beeler's school and military days, including the Purple Heart he won by dying in the service of his country.

"The ultimate price has been paid here. No more tomorrows. No children," said Tony Gillum, state junior vice commandant for the Marine Corps League.

After visitation, the Marine Corps League, an association of retired and active Marines, performed its dedication ceremony. The ceremony featured bagpipes, prayers and a bugler playing "Taps." All veterans and active members of the military in attendance were invited to join the slow-salute portion of the ceremony.

"It's a very special ritual that has been done hundreds if not thousands of times," Gillum said. "This same ceremony is performed for a private or for a four-star general. It makes no difference."

From the Citizen Patriot

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