Cpl. McGhee’s memorial and funeral

On Monday friends, family and fellow Rangers gathered at Massaponax High School to remember Cpl. Ryan McGhee who was killed in Iraq on May 13.  Through a variety of spoken testimonials and slideshows, those left behind told  a story about a young man who had likely experienced the spectrum of what humanity has to offer. At the age of 21 and already a veteran of three trips to Afghanistan, Iraq was his fourth deployment. Undoubtedly he saw the worst of what people can do to each other and at home he left behind a loving family and his high school sweetheart. From what their friends and family said, they shared an incredible love story.  One of the videos highlighted his football career at Massaponax and was a montage of still images and video of him playing.  It was a little weird in that a lot of the still pictures were photos I had taken that season. It was a little strange to see them projected at a memorial service when you think about the spirit in which they were taken – of a vibrant teenage life pursuing sports. After the service, the crowd moved down to the football field for a candlelight vigil. It was still pretty bright out so the candles didn’t have much effect but the sentiment was still there.

Masasponax football coach Eric Ludden speaks at a memorial service honoring Cpl. Ryan Casey McGhee in the auditorium of Massaponax High School in Spotsylvania, VA on Monday, June 1, 2009. McGhee, an Army Ranger in the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment from Ft. Benning, Ga. was killed in action in Iraq on May 13, 2009. (Mike Morones/The Free Lance-Star)

Ashleigh Mitchell of Spotsylvania hugs her father Christopher Mitchell after he spoke about his daughter's fiance, Cpl. Ryan Casey McGhee.

Mourners gather around the McGhee family on the football field at Massaponax High School.

Early on Tuesday Rusty and I drove to Arlington for his funeral. I had never covered a funeral at Arlington before and aside from the expected traffic, we ran into a few minor problems. It was a combination of me confusing where I needed to be at what time and getting the runaround from some of the Arlington people. It was a bummer that we got there early but by the time the confusion was worked out, we were very nearly late. In the end, though, all that is irrelevant as Rusty and I were able to witness the ceremony, do our jobs and make our way back to the Burg. The reporter from the Post remarked that he has covered something like 70 funerals and hadn’t seen too many that drew a crowd like Cpl. McGhee’s.

A caisson carries the remains of Cpl Ryan Casey McGhee to his gravesite at Arlington National Cemetery.

Soldiers from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, The Old Guard, fold the flag covering Cpl. Ryan McGhee's casket during his funeral at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA on Tuesday, June 2, 2009. McGhee, an Army Ranger in the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment from Ft. Benning, Ga. was killed in action in Iraq on May 13, 2009. (Mike Morones/The Free Lance-Star)

Steven McGhee is comforted by his wife Kristie McGhee during the funeral for his son Army Cpl. Ryan Casey McGhee at Arlington National Cemetery on Tuesday, June 2, 2009. McGhee, an Army Ranger in the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment from Ft. Benning, Ga. was killed in action in Iraq on May 13, 2009. Joining Mr. McGhee, from left, is Casey's fiance Ashleigh Mitchell, Casey's mother Sherrie Battle-McGhee and brother Zachary McGhee. (Mike Morones/The Free Lance-Star)