SSgt. David Day was killed while serving in Afghanistan
GAYLORD, MI -- Hundreds of people gathered in Gaylord to say their final goodbyes to a local American Hero, a Marine, who was killed in combat while serving in Afghanistan. Friday, his funeral was held.
There were hundreds of people, family, friends, and fellow Marines, who showed up to say their final goodbye to Staff Sergeant David Day."
"He was just one of the most patriotic, first class guys you'd ever know," said close friend Chuck Chesner.
"I’ll either die serving my country or die an old man. He did loving what he did," explained Kyle Chesner, another friend.
Marine Corps SSgt. David Day will be forever remembered for his love for the United States of America. He was 26 years old, serving in Afghanistan, when he was killed attempting to diffuse an IED.
"Moment to moment, sometimes it's more emotional than others, but life isn't how you always had it charted," said David’s Father, Don Day.
Friday, tears flowed from family members and friends, and fellow Marines. People lined the procession route.
“He made the ultimate sacrifice for our country," said one man who lined the path.
Police cleared the streets and the Patriot Guard led the way.
"It’s very important. What little sacrifice we made to get here is nothing like the sacrifice the day family has made," said Patriot Guard Assistant Ride Captain Denny Mayo.
An American Flag, a symbol of day's patriotism, marked the entrance to his final resting place.
"We’re really sad of a loss of a brother, he was like a brother to us, if you talk to many marines, that's how we view our teammates and fellow marines, and we feel like we lost a family member," said Gunnery Sergeant Peter J. Boby.
"It came God, country, and then himself, he was passionate leading what this country was founded on, and truly being able to express that and defend that," said Chuck Chesney.
"He was a really good person, a good kid, and he had a lot of strength of his own, and we're trying to do what we think he'd want us to be doing in some respects," said Don Day.
His life cut short, but patriotism, that lives in the symbol of the American Flag.
SSgt. David Day was one of the few, the proud, the Marines, but to the community of Gaylord, to the State of Michigan, and the United States, we're all proud of this American Hero.
Friday, Governor Snyder ordered flags to be lowered half-staff to honor day's sacrifice.
Day is survived by his wife, Nicole.
