Thousands Turn Out For Final Farewell To A Fallen Marine And Tulsa Police Officer

A fallen hero's final salute. <br/><br/>Tulsan Jared Shoemaker was a Corporal in the United States Marine Corps and a Tulsa Police officer. He was killed last week in Iraq, when his vehicle drove

Friday, September 15th 2006, 10:58 am

By: News On 6

A fallen hero's final salute.

Tulsan Jared Shoemaker was a Corporal in the United States Marine Corps and a Tulsa Police officer. He was killed last week in Iraq, when his vehicle drove over a bomb.

News on 6 anchor Scott Thompson says thousands of people paid their respects Friday morning.

The First United Methodist Church in downtown Tulsa was literally overflowing with mourners, their grief and the respect they had for Corporal Jared Shoemaker. Before he was deployed to Iraq with the Marines, Jared was a Tulsa Police officer with a degree in psychology and criminal justice.

Pastor Dr. R Wade Paschal Jr. "And that's one of the reasons our grief is so real this morning. There was so much hope and promise in him. It is hard to say goodbye." Tulsa Police Chief Dave Been: "He was described as the dream OIT. That's officer in training, and a truly enjoyable person to be around."

Deputies and troopers, police officers and Marines, made up a sea of uniforms and black-banded badges to honor one of their own. Flanked by flags from the Tulsa Police Department and the Marine Corps, a flag-draped coffin stood front-and-center, as Jared's brothers remembered their hero.

Jaredâ€™s brother Ben Shoemaker: "We wanted to share about the kid who called himself the Incredible Gulk, because he couldn't say Hulk. And the kid who wouldn't leave the house without a cape and cowboy boots on. Jared always wanted to be a superhero."

Jared wore a Superman tattoo on his left arm and a badge over his heart.

Jaredâ€™s brother Steve Shoemaker: "He was a Marine, police officer and a rugby player. But he was also a husband, a brother, a son and a friend. The love and the passion he brought to everything he did made him one of the best. I am so proud to be his brother."

Following the service, there was a processional along the Broken Arrow Expressway on its way from the funeral to Floral Haven cemetery.

Jared Shoemaker is survived by his wife Kari; parents Kenneth and Linda Shoemaker and brothers Steve and Ben.