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Hundreds Line Streets To Honor Fallen Soldier

Tribune photo by CHRISTINE DELESSIO

Marcus Mathes' casket is carried from his funeral Tuesday at the Calvary Assembly of God church in Dade City.

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By GEOFF FOX | The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 6, 2008

Updated: 05/06/2008 05:09 pm

DADE CITY - Hundreds of people lined a bustling downtown street today to watch the funeral procession of Sgt. Marcus Mathes, killed by a mortar attack in Baghdad on April 28.

The procession, from Calvary Assembly of God in Dade City to Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, was observed by business proprietors and residents for several blocks along Seventh Street. The effort was organized by the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce.

Edna Gonzalez, owner of the Tropical Breeze Café, said she didn't know Mathes, a Zephyrhills High School graduate, but that didn't stop her from temporarily closing her restaurant so 15 employees – and several customers – could show respect for the fallen soldier.

"It doesn't matter if I lose any business, this is more important," Gonzalez said. "This is life. I'm sure [Mathes] didn't expect this to be his outcome. This is the least we could do."

On the other side of the street, dozens of faculty, students and parents from the Academy at the Farm charter school outside Dade City held flags and put their hands over their hearts as the procession passed.

"We're very patriotic," said school Director Mike Rom. "We wear red, white and blue uniforms and play 'Proud To Be An American' every day. It's kind of our theme song."

Chamber president Missy Lea said officials with Hodges Funeral Home, which handled the funeral, asked the chamber to organize the tribute.

"I don't know of anyone who didn't step out and stand in front of their shops, at least," she said.

Earlier today, more than 250 people filled the pews at Calvary Assembly of God, where family and friends remembered Mathes through words and images. The ceremony was conducted by the Rev. Wes White, who had married Marcus and Julia Mathes six years ago.

A picture and video presentation showed images of Mathes kissing Julia, popping a wheelie on a motorcycle, grilling outdoors, raising a beverage and adjusting the beret of his Army uniform.

In almost every picture, he wore a large grin.

Addressing the assembled mourners, Julia Mathes thanked everyone for "much more support than I know what to do with."

The high school sweethearts married in 2002, two weeks after she graduated.

"There was no way I could get up here and just sum up what I feel about Marcus," she said. "That would take days."

Instead, she read a passage from Psalm 46 that she discovered while waiting for Army officials to inform her of her husband's fate. As she spoke, some in the audience dabbed at their eyes, while others bowed their heads.

When she was finished, the 24-year-old widow seemed to speak for everyone:

"Marcus, we all love you."

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