Clark County Press, Neillsville, WI

January 10, 2007, Front Page

Transcribed by Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Marine comes home to honor, and a final resting place

A colorful array of flowers marked the location of the flag-draped coffin of Marine Corporal Joshua Schmitz as a long procession of visitors paid their final respect to a hometown hero with condolences to the family.

By Mick Kuzjak

"Amazing Grace" - words from a powerful and moving hymn might well have been used to describe the way in which a Clark County community recently turned tragedy to inspiration after a second native son was killed in Iraq in just two years.

The small community of Loyal bonded with the family of Marine Corporal Joshua Schmitz from the moment of the news of his death in Iraq on Dec. 26^th - two years to the day after SSgt, Todd Olson was mortally wounded - to the time he was finally laid to rest in a Loyal church cemetery last Thursday.

But for one day last Wednesday the grieving community opened its door to the public for their visitation and condolences at the Loyal High School gymnasium.  And, from near and far, the people came.  Many never knew the Marine who died.  Yet, they arrived and paid homage to the sacrifice of an American soldier, his family and his hometown.

Inside the gymnasium, the procession of visitors approached the flag-draped coffin with Marines in dress-blue ceremonial uniform standing by, until the evening memorial service, a program of words and music, began.

Loyal Mayor Randy Anderson, among the first of the speakers, looked in the direction of the grieving family, including the parents, Kelly and Mark Schmitz.  "Please know that your loss is felt by our entire community," he told them.

One of those who had come to know the character of the young man first-hand stepped to the speaker’s podium to share his thoughts.  Football coach, Chris Lindner, remembered what it meant to Schmitz to be a Loyal Greyhound.  He recalled a stand-out linebacker, with an upbeat smile who made practice a pleasure for a grateful coach.  But, even in high school, recalled Lindner, Schmitz always had the dream of becoming a Marine. "He’s a true hero to all of us," he said.

Father Woodrow Pace came forward with a message meant to bring comfort and from the looks on the faces of community members in the gym as he spoke, it did.  "Whoever loves life, loses it," the Catholic priest said.  "He lived out the kindness of Christ.  He lived out that service, but did not count the cost."

From words to music, the praises for a young man, continued. A friend, Travis Strey, accompanied only by his guitar and memories of a fellow musician’s love of music, played a favorite song.  The Clark County Choraliers and Clark County Male Chorus followed, taking turns in singing songs of glory and inspiration.

The Clark County Choraliers performing at the memorial of Joshua Schmitz

The Clark County Male Chorus raising their voices in song

A video presentation of a life cut short was filled with quality well beyond a young Marine’s years.  To a medley of songs that included "American Soldier" and "Proud to be an American," the large lighted screen at the front of the darkened gymnasium depicted a happy childhood, with the smiles continuing through Schmitz’s high school years and his service in the Marines where he had pulled two tours of duty in Iraq.

Marine Captain Tony Mitchell was one of those who had come to know Schmitz in his last days.  Delivering the eulogy, he recalled a dedicated and intense soldier in the war against terrorism.  "Thank you for keeping us safe," Captain Mitchell said in his words for Schmitz.  "You are a warrior of the highest degree."

In expressing gratitude of a nation for their son’s valor and ultimate sacrifice, a Marine Officer presented the family with the Purple Heart award.  In the hushed gymnasium, he kneeled down to deliver the award and a few private words.  Then, the officer stepped back and gave a crisp salute to the parents of a fallen comrade in arms.

Having presented the Purple Heart to the parents of Joshua

Schmitz, a fellow Marine renders a salute to a fallen comrade.

Soon the voices of the Congregation of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Loyal filled the gymnasium in a final farewell.  "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound…" they sang as the memorial service ended.

The next day, Corporal Joshua Schmitz - a son, a brother, a friend and, finally, a Marine - was laid to rest, with full military honors, in his hometown cemetery.