BRANDON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
By: Pamela Weaver
Staff Sergeant Jason Rogers was laid to rest among thousands of supporters who came to pay their last respects.
Cheryl Trussel, a Brandon resident said, "I just wanted my son to come out and see what this guy did for us and our freedom."
"What started as 10 bikers quickly grew to over 400, members of the patriot guard say they come here out of respect"
"These guys make sacrifices every day the least we can do is show a little honor to them and their family for what they give to us," said Patriot Guard member, Greg Taylor.
The 28-year-old Marine paid the ultimate sacrifice when an IED exploded while Rogers was trying to evacuate injured marines to safety.
"You stand behind your Marines," said Clyde Hancock, U.S. Veteran Marine.
Rogers died not standing behind his Marines, but in from of them, blocking his wounded comrades from danger.
In a released statement, Rogers' company commander recalls the Marine's self sacrifice: "Through his heroic actions and ferocious desire to save the lives of his critically wounded marines, he paid the ultimate price and ensured that every last marine came out of the compound alive"
This brings the reality of how tense things really are and how they can get tense in a blink of an eye.
Rogers is survived by his wife, Angela.
He was laid to rest at New Brandon Cemetery.
©2011 WLBT. All rights reserved
WLBT 3 - Fox 40
