Jeremy Stacey laid to rest

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Cpl. Jeremy Stacey was remembered Friday as someone who was trained as a protector long before he joined the Army in 2003, keeping a constant eye on his four younger sisters while growing up.

Stacey, 23, died July 5 of wounds from a roadside bomb in Baghdad, Iraq. Stacey, who grew up in Texas and Arkansas, was honored at a memorial service in Albuquerque and was buried with full military honors at Santa Fe National Cemetery.

As the oldest child, he would pick on his sisters but was fiercely loyal to his family, said Stacey's mother, Betty Click of Los Chavez.

"Jeremy was a great protector. He always took care of his sisters," she said.

One time at a football game he attended in Belen with his family, one of his sisters decided to wander through the crowd to the concession stand.

"Jeremy got up and I asked him where he was going and he said, 'She might need more money.' He was really going to follow her to make sure she was safe," Click said.

Army Chaplain Ricardo Russo, who officiated the service, said Stacey, like many soldiers, stood up for what he believed in.

"It's embedded in the core and being of their souls and because of that, we have a strong country, a great country," Russo said. "Cpl. Stacey fought for the freedoms that we really truly do enjoy and the freedoms he wanted to go on."

Stacey was posthumously promoted to corporal and was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

Stacey was born in Texas and spent his youth in Amarillo. He joined the Army right after graduating from high school in Bismarck, Ark. He lived in central New Mexico's Valencia County with his family for a few months before being stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas.

He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 12th Calvary Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team and 1st Calvary Division at Fort Bliss, serving as an armor crewman.

A slide presentation at his funeral showed photos of Stacey's life: a cheery baby, rambunctious young boy, doting older brother, serious high school graduate and his military service. The deep sobs of Click and other members of his family could be heard over the gentle, sweeping music of the presentation.

Stacey is survived by his mother and sisters Jessica Stacey of Arizona; Shaila Stacey of Lubbock, Texas; and Lisa Close and Erica Close of Los Chavez.

Click said her son re-enlisted after four years in the Army and had planned to buy a house in Valencia County.

"Jeremy was more of a writer, an artist _ he was quiet," she said. "He was going to come home and go to college to be a writer."

Nearly 40 members of the Patriot Guard Riders, made up of veteran and civilian motorcycle riders, attended the service and escorted the procession.

Gov. Bill Richardson ordered flags to fly at half-staff in Stacey's honor.

From the Pine Bluff Commercial

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