Slain Oklahoma Marine Laid To Rest

BLACKWELL, Okla. (AP) _ The brother of an Oklahoma Marine killed last week in Iraq told mourners on Friday not to forget his younger sibling. <br/><br/>About 500 people attended funeral services Marine

Friday, July 13th 2007, 4:30 pm

By: News On 6

BLACKWELL, Okla. (AP) _ The brother of an Oklahoma Marine killed last week in Iraq told mourners on Friday not to forget his younger sibling.

About 500 people attended funeral services Marine Cpl. Jeremy Allbaugh, 21, who died July 5 when a roadside bomb exploded near his vehicle in the Al Anbar province.

Allbaugh's brother, Army 2nd Lt. Jason Allbaugh, recalled during the funeral that his brother asked him to do two things before he deployed to Iraq with his Marine unit.

``He said, Take care of Mom and Dad,' and then he hesitated _ 'Remember me,''' Jason Allbaugh said.

Jeremy Allbaugh grew up in Harrah and graduated in 2004 from Harrah High School.

He was the nephew of Joe Allbaugh, a business consultant and former director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency during President Bush's first term in office. He also was Bush's campaign manager in the 2000 presidential race.

Jason Allbaugh said his brother meant the world to him.

``He was my best friend,'' he said. ``Rest easy, sleep well, little brother.''

The Rev. Jeff Koch, pastor of the First Christian Church in Blackwell, said Jeremy Allbaugh ``paid the ultimate sacrifice so tonight we can sleep easy.''

After the service, the funeral procession took the long trip to the Blackwell cemetery. On one block along the route, children and adults waved American flags when the procession passed by.

After prayers at the cemetery, two Marines, wearing dress uniforms with white gloves, carefully folded the American flag that covered the casket and then handed the flag to Jon and Jenifer Allbaugh, the parents of the slain Marine.