Poway Bernardo Mortuary

Community turns out to salute fallen Marine

By Pat Kumpan

Photos by Beverley Brooks

Poway Road was lined Thursday morning with people enthusiastically waving American flags along the funeral route for a fallen Marine.

Lance Cpl. Jason D. Hill, 20, whose family said was always destined to be a Marine, died during combat operations in Afghanistan on June 11.

It mattered little to those who stood along Poway Road, outside Poway-Bernardo Mortuary, that Hill was unknown to them, said Janet Tripp of Poway.

She brought her son, Timothy Tripp, “so he could see the whole picture.”

“I’m proud to show my son someone who made a sacrifice, that Jason Hill had honor in serving his country,” she added.

The message for the day was duty, honor, respect, love for others and being able to express those emotions.

Debbie White, a former Navy wife, shared extra flags with Tony Whetstine and his young son, all of Poway.

Whetstine, who served in the Marines and thought of his friends who died in the first Gulf War, came out to watch the hearse go by because, “It’s a lesson for my kids — about honor.”

Once Hill’s flag-draped casket arrived behind Maranatha Chapel in 4S Ranch pallbearers helped transfer it to a horse-drawn carriage.

Hill’s fellow Marines and family walked somberly as the carriage  circled to the front of the chapel.

Once inside the chapel, amid tears and several humorous anecdotes, family, friends and former teachers painted a portrait of Hill, who loved fishing, having plenty of male and female friends, his family — but most of all, being a proud Marine.

While Pastor Doug Dorsey officiated, it was Hill’s father, Chuck, who kept the service moving.

“He had a thirst for life, a strength of character,” Chuck Hill said. “Jason died well — don’t doubt for a second that he missed anything in his life.”

After his graduation from boot camp, his father said his son walked up to a sergeant major and said, “I want your job, sir.”

His dad said, “He did more (in his 20 years) than most 45-year-olds.”

Aaron Hill, Jason’s older brother, spoke about the fun the brothers had.

“We grew up side-by-side,” he said. “Everything I did was to set a better example for him.”

Aaron Hill added that his brother “was bringing back the old Marine Corps,” tradition and values that meant something to his younger brother.

Funeral Thursday for Poway Marine killed in Afghanistan - Pomerado ...

Hill, 20, was a 2008 Abraxas High School graduate, a rifleman serving with the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, I Marine Expeditionary force based at Camp Pendleton.

A public viewing will be from 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, June 22 at Poway-Bernardo Mortuary, 13243 Poway Road, Poway.

Services will be held 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 23 at Maranatha Chapel, 10752 Coastwood Road, 4S Ranch.

Mayor Don Higginson is urging residents to line up along Poway Road, near Poway Bernardo Mortuary, between 8:30 and 8:45 a.m. Thursday to pay their respects to Hill. The council adjourned Tuesday night in Hill’s memory.

Both services will be open to the public, as will the burial, set for 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in Point Loma.

The Patriot Guard Riders, a dedicated group of veterans, escorted Hill’s casket by motorcycle from MCAS Miramar to Poway on Saturday.

Apparently some anti-war protestors went to this funeral. The emotionally exhausted family was at Cully's for lunch today. I overheard the father correcting his younger son saying 'No your wrong. I fought in a war, you are fighting in a war, and we just buried your brother, all fighting to keep this country free. Taking away freedoms is a slippery slope. As much as I hated seeing the protestors at my son's funeral, I don't want rights taken away.' This is an incredibly strong family! So sad that we have low class people sick enough to protest a soldier and hurt his family in an already difficult situation. Go protest a politician, not a brave soldier. Hill family, I am so sorry for your loss. Peace be with you.

Reality television

California workers' damages practice

Outstanding young men of America

Broadcasting & cable

Who's who in California