Community mourns loss of local soldier
By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com

Lance Cpl. Anthony C. Melia

Tears flowed down thousands of faces on Monday as the Conejo Valley joined the family of Lance Cpl. Anthony Charles Melia in celebrating his life. The 20yearold Marine was shot to death last month in Iraq.

Children held the hands of their parents. Elderly decorated veterans stood at attention. The Thousand Oaks High School Lancers held a sign that read: "Lost But Never Forgotten."

Restaurant workers came outside wearing white aprons. Businessmen wore suits and ties and joggers stopped and waited on street corners.

Roads were lined with hundreds of residents wearing black, reverently holding flags and putting their hands over their hearts as the hearse carrying Anthony brought him one last time through the town in which he grew up. His carriage was preceded by a large motorcade of deputies and followed by his family inside five limousines. Trees were decorated with red, white and blue ribbons.

"It was incredibly overwhelming to see the community pull together. It meant the world to us," said Anthony's cousin, Joseph Melia of Ventura.

"I'm here standing because he is an absolute hero who went to serve us and ended up paying the ultimate price of freedom," said Thousand Oaks resident Henry Wolf, 63, who watched the procession on Moorpark Road.

Nearby was 17yearold Spencer Press, a senior at Newbury Park High School who said he'd enlisted in the Marines and will go to boot camp in August, one month before he turns 18.

"He died for what he believed in and I'm going to go and fight for what I believe in- the Iraqi people deserve to have freedom, the same as we have freedom," said Press.

The procession ended at Calvary Community Churchin Westlake Village, where soloists sang "The Impossible Dream" and "Ave Maria." A video of Anthony was shown- a bright, smiling boy growing up surrounded by a loving family. In the clips he was playing sports, sitting on the couch eating pizza, and often had his arms around those he loved. Scriptures were read and prayers were spoken.

About 2,000 gathered in the church auditorium. Photos of Anthony and sprays of flowers surrounded his flag-covered casket.

Anthony's cousin Frank Melia, Jr., said Anthony had told his family that, if he were to die in Iraq, "God had bigger and better plans for me."

He spoke of the pain he felt and the love the family had received since his cousin's death. He characterized Anthony as a fierce warrior and a man of love, compassion and faithfulness who will be missed, but never forgotten.

Anthony's high school English teacher Teri Sanders remembered him as a popular student who struggled through "Huckleberry Finn" but learned to respect the character Jim, a slave, for the way Jim showed his love through his actions.

Anthony was more than someone who wore a football or a military uniform- he was a person who brought light into a sometimes dark world, Senior Pastor Brad Johnson said.

His girlfriend, Jamie Chunko, 18, spoke of her love for Anthony. His grandfather, Charles Melia, asked the crowd to give his grandson a standing ovation for a job well done, and everyone stood up and replied with a thunderous applause. Anthony's grandmother Joann Melia spoke about how much her grandson loved Jesus Christ and how knowing that brings comfort and hope to her.

During the service Marines spoke of Melia and presented a Purple Heart- a medal awarded in the name of the president of the United States to those wounded or killed in military action- to the marine's mother, Vicki Melia.

At the graveside service at Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks, military honors included a 21gun salute and folded flags presented by Marines to Anthony's 22-year-old sister, Nicole; his 17-year-old brother Daniel; his parents Vicki and Mike; and grandparents June Sojpack and Joann and Charles Melia.