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Local hero recalled during rosary service in Porterville
Timing: Mass, funeral for Sgt. Timothy Martin set today.
Hundreds of mourners crowded Holy Cross Catholic Church Tuesday night for recitation of the rosary in remembrance of Sgt. Timothy Paul Martin, 27, of Pixley, who along with three other soldiers was killed Feb. 8 while serving in Iraq.
Two candles were placed on the side of Sgt. MartinĀ’s brown coffin in a church glowing with dim yellow light. A U.S. flag draped the wooden coffin inside the church as members of the community mourned the Porterville areaĀ’s loss of its second native son to the war in Iraq.
"History is repeating itself," Dan Stadtherr, of Porterville, said of soldiers killed in Iraq, in comparison to the Vietnam War.
"HeĀ’s a serious man and a good student," Stadtherr said of Sgt. Martin. "He studied hard and went to the Army to make a future for himself."
Red flowers and green leaves graced the front entrance of the church as water flowed in a fountain. Many mourners shed tears as they walked by MartinĀ’s coffin after the Rev. Scott Daugherty recited the rosary. They bowed their heads slightly as they walked by Sgt. MartinĀ’s coffin.
"He made the ultimate sacrifice for us," Debbie Prescott, of Porterville, said. "HeĀ’s a hero and will always be a hero to me. IĀ’m grateful for him."
Prescott described Martin as extremely intelligent.
"We love him dearly," Stacey Hill, of Porterville, said. "And heĀ’s in our prayers."
Attending the rosary wasnĀ’t easy for many in attendance.
"Today was very hard," Maria Velasquez, of Porterville, said. "IĀ’m only feeling a touch of what [Sgt. MartinĀ’s mother] is feeling. I cannot imagine what she is going through."
Services for Sgt. Martin continue Wednesday at 11 a.m. with Mass of the resurrection at St. AnneĀ’s Catholic Church, 378 N. F St.
Well-wishers are planning to gather at noon at the corner of F Street and Morton Avenue to pay their respects to Sgt. Martin and his family as they leave St. AnneĀ’s Catholic Church for funeral services at Tulare District Cemetery in Tulare. Those taking part are asked to bring American flags.
Sgt. Martin and his comrades died after their vehicle hit an improvised explosive device in Taji, Iraq.
-- Contact Shawbong Fok at 784-5000, Ext. 1047 or at sfok@portervillerecorder.com.
