Army Pfc. Meari, from southwest suburban Plainfield, died Nov. 1 in Afghanistan.
Hundreds of Meari's relatives and friends assembled Thursday afternoon at a shelter in the largely wooded Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, where Meari's remains were brought in a flag-draped silver casket by seven Army pallbearers clad in green service uniforms. Mourners surrounded the outdoor stone shelter where the ceremony occurred, holding American flags taller than they were.
No relatives spoke during the hourlong service led by a military chaplain, but comments came from Army Major Gen. Dave Quantock and Gov. Pat Quinn.
Quantock read letters from soldiers in Afghanistan who worked with Meari, known to some as DJ Tiger after his middle name Nimir, which means tiger in Arabic.
One letter, recalling Meari's love of DJing and how his friends keep his song mixes on their iPods, drew laughter from the family, who otherwise held hands over their hearts, bowed their heads and quietly wept during the service.
"Even the worst of days were a party to him," Quantock read. "I know right now he is looking down at us from behind his golden turntables."
Quinn said Meari was a true hero in an age when rock stars and athletes are idolized.
"He had a servant's heart," Quinn said. "He always cared about other people."
Quantock also read a quote from Meari's commanding officer in Afghanistan.
"Andrew never complained, never hesitated and always got the job done."
Quantock and other Army representatives presented Meari's parents, Denise Meehan, of Plainfield, and Mahmoud Meari, of Wisconsin, with six service medals, including the Purple Heart.
In addition to his parents, Meari is survived by a younger sister and two younger stepbrothers.
Meari, an infantryman assigned to the 101st Airborne Division, joined the Army in 2008.
He died when his unit was attacked with a vehicle-borne explosive device in Kandahar. Meari and another soldier in his platoon took the brunt of the explosion, saving the lives of the other soldiers traveling with them, family said.
Meari's uncle, Samir Miari, of Orland Park, released a statement after the funeral.
"While very proud of Andy's accomplishments and sacrifice, we are very saddened by his death. We love Andy very much, and we will miss him greatly."
No comments:
Post a Comment