He was one of ours

Tulsa mourns officer, Marine killed in Iraq

Metropolitan Tulsa came together as one community Friday to respect and pay tribute to the memory of Marine Cpl. Jared Shoemaker, who was killed Sept. 4 in Iraq.

More than 1,700 mourners packed the First United Methodist Church downtown, among them hundreds of police officers from Tulsa and across Oklahoma who came to honor one of their own.

Shoemaker, 29, a Marine reservist called into active duty in December, also was a Tulsa police officer.

To the soft organ music of "Ave Maria," Shoemaker's flag-draped oak casket was slowly wheeled into the sanctuary, led by a Marine and a Tulsa officer, and followed by police and Marine honor guards.

The Rev. R. Wade Paschal Jr. offered the eulogy, beginning with a sermon and followed by the singing of a hymn by all mourners.

Paschal said

Shoemaker was not afraid to put himself in harm's way, whether it was fighting the enemy or putting handcuffs on someone.

The pastor told mourners that some people "choose to attack," while others choose to stand in their way.

"Jared was one of those who chose to stand in their way," Paschal said.