Welcome Home, Jimmy Kimple May 10, 2008
Posted by Michael in Heroes, News.trackback
CARROLL, Ohio — Time stopped in this small village today as residents turned out to honor the life and death of one of their own.
Lance Cpl. James F. Kimple, 21, was among four Marines killed May 2 by a roadside bomb in Iraq. Hundreds of friends, relatives and village residents attended Kimple’s funeral service at Bloom-Carroll Middle School.
The married father of three young children was based at Camp Pendleton in California and was on his second tour of duty in Iraq. He leaves behind his wife, Amber, and their two children, Drake J. and Maleah R. Kimple, all of Amanda, and his child Dominic J. Kimple of Carroll.
Downtown Carroll was nearly deserted during the funeral, with local businesses paying tribute to the fallen Marine on signs and window displays. Pictures of the men and women from Carroll serving in the armed forces hang on the wall of Scoons Restaurant and Bar on Center Street.
Kimple’s is the only one of the nine marked with a black ribbon. Outside, the sign reads “ Welcome home Jimmy Kimple, be at peace.”
It’s cool that the bikers showed up for Jimmy.
Rows of motorcycles surrounding the school gym belonged to the Patriot Guard Riders and the Leathernecks Motorcycle Club. The two groups combined to bring more than 75 riders to serve as an honor guard in the funeral procession.
“A Marine is a Marine for life,” said Mike Ream, 60, of Columbus, who led the Leathernecks’ detail yesterday. “This kid we’re burying today is younger than my children, but he’s my brother.”
There is something that is, very humbling I think, hard to describe really, about the comradere and honor that Marines share. An 82 year old veteran of Guadalcanal, Saipan and Iwo, feels this remarkable bond with a 21 year old Lance Corporal. Because of their service, and shared experience in harm’s way.
It’s something that the rest of us really do not understand, not fully. But it deserves our respect, and eternal gratitude.
May God rest his soul, and comfort the ones who loved this Marine. Semper Fidelis.