Gilroy
– Thousands of people lined the streets of Gilroy on Sunday in
tribute to fallen U.S. Marine Jeramy Ailes, who was killed fighting
in Iraq earlier this month.
Gilroy – Thousands of people lined the streets of Gilroy on Sunday in tribute to fallen U.S. Marine Jeramy Ailes, who was killed fighting in Iraq earlier this month.
The ladder of a Gilroy fire truck, draped with an American flag, framed the entrance to Gavilan Hills Memorial Park, where the 22-year-old was laid to rest. Police estimate between 3,000 and 5,000 people lined the First Street approach to the gates.
“Going from the church to the cemetery was unbelievable,” said cousin and Airman First Class Aimee Santos, who escorted Ailes’ body to California from Dover Air Force Base. “I could not believe there were that many people out there. We knew there were going to be people out there, but never that many. It was very moving to see there were so many people that cared.”
The throng, which stretched a quarter mile from the gates of Gavilan Hills Memorial Park past Westwood Drive, included flag-waving Boy Scouts, bikers, and many friends wearing T-shirts depicting Ailes in his trademark cowboy hat and white T-shirt.
“I think it’s important to come out and show support,” said Gilroy resident Richard Patereau, a former Marine who fought in Vietnam. “This is a very unique community in the way we support each other. I just thought I couldn’t sit home. (Jeramy Ailes) was being honored today and I had to be a part of it.”
Lance Cpl. Ailes was a member of the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines Division, 1st Platoon. He was serving his second tour of duty in Iraq when he was shot and killed in an ambush Nov. 15, at the end of a weeklong campaign to root out insurgents in Fallujah. He is the first Gilroy resident to die in battle since Vietnam.
Friends of the family started a memorial fund within hours of Ailes’ death, and students at Morgan Hill’s Barrett Elementary School, where Ailes’ mother Lana works, held a flag ceremony with visiting Marines Nov. 19.
At the cemetery, Marines laid Ailes’ coffin in its final resting place beneath a large oak tree as part of a full military burial. The first cracks of the rifle salute drew starts from the crowd and tears from Ailes’ mother Lana, who covered her eyes during the volleys. Moments later, Marines presented her with a folded American flag and the Purple Heart for her son’s bravery in service.
But the day was not all somber.
On Sunday, it was clear the stories about Ailes – from his fun-loving personality to his sympathy for others here and abroad – had reached thousands of people and compelled them to pay their final respect.
“I just want to say thank you to the people,” said Ailes’ cousin Aimee Santos. “It wasn’t just Gilroy – the whole surrounding area was there. It helped out a lot and meant a lot to the family. We were all in tears. It was so overwhelming. I wanted to thank everybody, and thank you to Jeramy. He’s our hero now.
