Hundreds attend young Marine's funeral
Hundreds of people attended the funeral of Lance Cpl. David Harrison Miles at the Wall Highway Baptist Church March 14 to say goodbye or show their support to the young Marine who was tragically killed in a bus crash earlier this month.
Speakers at the service described Miles as considerate, loyal and God-fearing. He was a 2006 graduate of Bob Jones High School, where he was a member of the student ROTC group. He was also an Eagle Scout.
The Reverend Neal Fossett gave an emotional tribute to Miles, partly due to the fact that Fossett was Miles' great-uncle.
Fossett compared Miles to David of the Bible, saying "he volunteered to fight the giant," drawing a parallel to Miles' volunteering to go to Iraq.
"He had a love for his family, fellow man, his country and his Lord," Fossett said.
Miles passed away before he had a chance to deploy to Iraq. When returning from a training exercise at Fort Rucker, Ala., the bus Miles was traveling on flipped and injured several people. Miles was the only casualty.
The incident is still under investigation.
lt. James Dewey, a Marine Chaplain, had spoken with Miles at camp the day he was involved in the wreck. He said David was very mature and spiritual, and that his generosity transcended even his death.
"David is selfless, even in death," Dewey said. "He is an organ donor. The doctor said this could impact up to 70 people."
Dr. Lee Singley, Miles' preacher at Wall Highway Baptist Church, also spoke at the service.
"He was loved in the community and in the Corps," he said. "He was small in stature, but he had a big heart."
Singley told those gathered that this was the second funeral he had presided over--he had recently lost his granddaughter the week before. Victoria Wilhoit was born prematurely and passed away in the hospital.
Miles was also honored by the city of Madison and the State of Alabama with proclamations, certificates and a flag that flew over the state capitol building in Montgomery.
"He is a proud son of Alabama," said Madison Mayor Sandy Kirkindall. "May his precious memory never be forgotten."
Fossett concluded his emotional eulogy by describing how he pictured David in Heaven.
"I can just see him," Fossett said. "He stood at attention, clicked those heels together, saluted that crisp military salute and said, 'Lance Corporal David H. Miles reporting for duty, sir.'"
