Friday, September 17, 2004 11:59 AM CDT
Casey soldier laid to rest
By ROB STROUD, Staff Writer
CASEY -- Roosevelt Junior High School students talked animatedly as they lined up along both sides of Fourth Street about noon Thursday.
However, a hush fell over the Casey-Westfield students as the reason for their assemblage approached. They stood in silence and held small American flags as the funeral procession for Spc. Charles Lamb, 23, passed by on its way to Washington Street Cemetery.
Lamb attended Roosevelt school -- like the students paying their respects -- before graduating in 1999 from Casey-Westfield High School. He was killed on Sept. 5 during a mortar attack on a logistics base near Baghdad, Iraq, while serving with the Paris-based 1544th Transportation Company of the Illinois Army National Guard.
The mortar attack also killed Sgt. Shawna Morrison of Paris and wounded 15 other members of the 1544th.
Keith Sinclair, a history and physical education teacher, said various instructors at Roosevelt talked to students prior to the funeral about the need to honor those who make the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
"I think they understand how severe a price Charles has paid by losing his future," Sinclair said.
Sinclair recalled he and many other teachers at Roosevelt school had Lamb in a class at one point or another. He remembered Lamb as a fun-loving, sincere student who had a lot of pride in his country.
"He was doing his part for all of us," Sinclair said of Lamb's service in Iraq.
Ruth Vernon of Casey went to Roosevelt school on Thursday to stand with her granddaughter, Natasha. She said getting students involved in honoring Lamb was a wonderful idea.
"This may help the kids understand we lost a guy from Casey, our hometown, that was loved very much," Vernon said.
Some of the older students also held large American flags provided by the local Veterans of Foreign Wars post.
Before turning the corner by Roosevelt school, the procession of more than 150 vehicles and at least 16 motorcycles drove through Casey's downtown. They passed by City Hall, which was closed during Lamb's funeral. This building was adorned with American flags plus fliers saying, "May his sacrifice never be forgotten."
The funeral was held at First Church of the Nazarene, where the Rev. David Vaughn estimated approximately 1,000 mourners were in attendance.
Other speakers at the funeral included Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn and Brig. Gen. Randal Thomas, adjutant general of the Illinois Army National Guard. The funeral was attended by a delegation from the high school's Future Farmers of America chapter, of which Lamb was a member.
Vaughn said he spoke to three members of the 1544th, who said Lamb would use his body to shield fellow soldiers during mortar attacks instead of trying to shield himself.
"He always put them first," Vaughn said.
The reverend said Lamb, a highly trained auto mechanic, served as a professional mentor to younger solders in the transportation company. Vaughn said Lamb also served as an emotional mentor by using his joyful personality to keep up morale.
Photographs displayed during the funeral showed that Lamb's friendly nature extended beyond the military to his family and all other aspects of his life, the reverend said.
"In nearly every picture, he had his arm around somebody," Vaughn said.
Contact Rob Stroud at rstroud@jg-tc.com or 348-5734.
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