Oneida Resident: "The community is just devastated"

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Oneida Resident: "The community is just devastated"

A young onlooker holds a flag in support of fallen Marine Lance Corporal Jeremy Lasher, as a motorcade carrying Lasher's remains makes its way through his hometown of Oneida on July 28, 2009. (Tom Geise / WKTV)

By EVAN WHITE

Story Created: Jul 30, 2009 at 3:47 PM EST

Story Updated: Jul 31, 2009 at 8:04 AM EST

ONEIDA, N.Y. (WKTV) - Hundreds of residents from in and around the City of Oneida filled Main Street Thursday morning, preparing for the arrival of a motorcade carrying fallen Marine Lance Corporal Jeremy Lasher.

After being flown into Griffiss International Airport this morning at about 10:30 a.m., the procession arrived on Main Street at Noon to a crowd of supporters who had been gathering for more than two hours.

"I think it's a very small thing I can do for him and thank him for all he's done for us...he gave the supreme sacrifice," said Ron Durkee, an Oneida resident.

"It's wonderful to see, because everyone is touched the same way that I am, I'm sure," said Joan Mancuso also of Oneida.

Homes and veterans' posts all over Oneida were filled with American and U.S. Marine flags.

As the hearse proceeded down Main Street, the crowd fell silent. All one could hear was the scrape of tires shifting on pavement as the vehicles turned into the Campbell-Dean Funeral Home to the waiting family members inside.

Minutes later, Marines carefully walked Lasher's casket into the funeral home as supporters looked on.

Lasher died while supporting combat operations in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan Thursday July 23d.

He is survived by his wife Andrea, son Caden, mother Vicky Arnold, and father Gary Lasher.

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