KBIA Local
(2010-05-31)
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COLUMBIA, MO
(KBIA) -
Family members, friends, military personnel and Columbia residents buried Pvt. First Class Jason Fingar Monday, on Memorial Day. KBIA's Sananda Sahoo reports.
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Twenty-four-year-old Jason Fingar died May 22 in Afghanistan after an improvised explosive device went off near his vehicle.
Monday afternoon, the Fingar family held an hour-long funeral at the Salvation Army Columbia Corps and Worship Center.
Later, the body of the slain soldier was brought to the Memorial Cemetery in a procession lead by a biker group, known as the Patriot Guard Riders.
Senior rider captain Joe Smith led the group to the funeral.
"We are not here for anybody that's here today except Jason. And that's our main function being here and escort him to his final resting place and pay him the honor and respect that he has come in to."
War veterans, Columbia residents and children wearing red, white and blue clothes lined the cemetery-side of the road, saluting and waving flags as the casket passed.
Twenty-six year-old Staff Sergeant John Victor had served in Afghanistan in a medical support unit in 2004. He attended the graveside services, even though he did not know Fingar personally.
"I came out to pay my respects as a fellow service member and also a fellow Columbian."
A bagpiper played Danny Boy' and Amazing Grace' as family, friends and military personnel poured in to pay respects at the graveside.
The late Fingar was given a gun salute after a flag-folding ceremony.
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