Hundreds of people gathered at First Baptist of Gautier Saturday to pay final respects to Maj. Michael Green. Green, 36, was killed Jan. 7 in a roadside explosion in Afghanistan where he was training militia recruits how to detect and disarm bombs.The Revs. Hunter Isaacs and James LeBatard officiated at an hour-long funeral service.
"He was a bright, young man who never met a stranger," LeBatard said, describing Green to about 400 people at the funeral service. Green's twin sister, Michelle, is married to LeBatard's nephew, Johnson Paul.
"When I was in the ministry, studying to become a minister, he asked me why I wanted to become a minister at my age. I was 46 at the time," LeBatard said, eliciting laughter from the crowd. "I told him it was just something I felt I had to do. I asked him why he wanted to risk his life in the military and he said it was just something he had to do."
LeBatard said serving his country was a childhood dream of Green's.
Fellow soldiers Robert Grimmer and Mark Smythe said Green was like a brother to each of them. "Everyone gravitated to him," Smythe said. "He had a huge heart and was always thinking how to make immediate life better for the people around him. Everyone here, I can guarantee, is a better person for having known Michael."
Grimmer talked about his first encounter with Green. "In walks this guy with aviator glasses one size too big," Grimmer said. "A pistol, hand grenades hanging everywhere, binoculars around his neck, and I thought, "OK, I need to be friends with that guy,'" he said, drawing laughter from the crowd. "He was the best friend we could have asked for."
Sen. Michael Watson represented the state Senate and House and presented Green's family with a joint resolution of the Legislature passed last week honoring Green. "To a country, a fallen soldier means a national loss," Watson said. "To a community, a fallen soldier means a true hero. To a parent, a fallen soldier means a son who won't be coming home. It is with great pride and humility that we recognize this great American who was the guardian of civilization as we know it today."
After the service, about 200 people traveled to the cemetery. At the graveside, veterans played "Amazing Grace" on bagpipes as Green's silver casket draped with an American flag was removed from the hearse.
Military personnel presented Green's mother, Jane, a Bronze Star, the military honor for bravery. Jane Green was told that her son received the award for acts he performed from Nov. 20 through Dec. 8, just one month before his death. She was also presented with the Purple Heart, an honor that is received by a soldier for the wounds he sustains in battle. Green's mother was presented with three other honors from his troops in Afghanistan. She stood tearful, but proud and accepted her son's honors, including the American flag that covered her son's casket.
Four soldiers fired rifles as another played "Taps" on a bugle in the distance. The song and gunfire brought reality to the graveside service as several muffled cries erupted from the crowd and Maj. Michael Lee Green was laid to rest.