Slain Marine hero is laid to rest

Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
FITTING TRIBUTE  — Members of the Houlton Fire Department stand at attention in the pouring rain Nov. 9 as the body of James Zimmerman returned home. A processional, which began in Island Falls, stretched the length of Military Street as Zimmerman’s body was brought to Houlton. The funeral  was held Thursday (Veteran’s Day) at Houlton High School.
1,600 mourners attend funeral for Smyrna native
By Elna Seabrooks
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — This afternoon when Marine 1st. Lt. James R. Zimmerman is laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery, his family will need the strength that they have exhibited since learning of his death on  Nov. 2 in Afghanistan.
    En route to the ceremony, Zimmerman’s father, Tom, said the family’s only “strength whatsoever is from The Lord to get us through one day at a time.” Zimmerman referred to the inspirational Christian lyrics in “Held” which was sung during the funeral by D.C. Washington. “Thanks to the support of the community of believers and the general community and hundreds of cards, we feel really supported and we feel held.”
    Pastor Rick Carver of the County Road Baptist Church had officiated at the funeral and he will be with the family for the ceremony at Arlington. Carver said “the family is holding up because of their belief in Christ and their ultimate hope in Christ. The loss is real, the pain is real and their hope is equally real.”
    An estimated 1,600 mourners arrived at Houlton High School for Zimmerman’s funeral on Veterans Day. They were young, old, military, civilians, classmates, government officials, law enforcement agency representatives, neighbors, fellow churchgoers, friends and even some who had never personally met the 25-year-old career Marine.
Contributed Photo
HAILED AS A HERO — Marine 1st. Lt. James R. Zimmerman will be laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery today. He was killed by enemy fire while leading his men during combat operations in Afghanistan Nov. 2 giving commands until he passed out.
    A Black Hawk helicopter, piloted by Col. Dave Smith flew over the 21-gun salute outside the high school following the funeral. It had been arranged, in part, by Zimmerman’s cousin, Command Sgt. Maj. Steve Curtis of the Army National Guard. Curtis said “James was a proud Marine who served his country admirably. And, he was an honorable young man.”
An example for the ages
    Following the flyover after the funeral, Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) told the Pioneer Times that Zimmerman exhibited “the kind of courage that has made us the greatest nation on earth. He was still giving out commands during his last moments. That is truly an example that will resonate for the ages.”
    Snowe said she had spoken with the family to express “the country’s profound gratitude for James’s service to our country and his willingness to pay the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our nation and the principles which we cherish.”
    Unfiltered tributes to his devotion to duty recognized his patriotism. The recollections of 1st Lt. Zimmerman as a man were no less sincere. Adjutant Gen. John Libby of the Maine National Guard said he had met him at the University of Maine. He added that “the turnout here in Houlton is just remarkable. It is poignant on Veterans Day and there are no words we can offer. But, we can return him with dignity. And, that has been accomplished.” Gov. John Baldacci said he was proud to be there and that Zimmerman, a Smyrna native, had come from a “tremendous family and a community with a great foundation.”
Contributed Photo
EVER SMILING — Known for his perennial smile, Smyrna native, Jim Zimmerman in his Marine combat fatigues, is seen here with his wife Lynel.
    Cpl. Ronald Mixon, who met Zimmerman in the Marines and at the University of Maine said he will “remember him as a good leader and as a man who was extremely funny. Zimmerman could do the most pushups. We called him the Abercrombie and Fitch cutout because he was always perfectly fit. It’s one of the greatest losses for the Marine Corps and for me as a friend. He was a great guy who never had a bad thing to say about anyone.”
    Retired Navy Capt. Jim Settele, who had commissioned Zimmerman 18 months ago, sat near the slain officer’s classmates and recalled his former student’s perennial tardiness for class with a smile. Zimmerman’s  fellow students agreed, through tears and emotion, that “without a doubt, he would not have had it any other way. He loved being a Marine.” They also recalled his ever present smile that was often a “sly grin.”
    One speaker during the funeral recalled that at about age 10, Zimmerman had sent in a card to become a Marine but was told he would have to wait a few years. Shannon Smith, sitting with several uniformed personnel, knew Zimmerman at the University of Maine at Orono. She said her classmate “knew what he wanted and what he wanted was to be a Marine.”
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
AT ATTENTION — Members of the United Veterans Motorcycle Club of Houlton and the Patriot Guard Riders hold flags outside of Houlton High School for the funeral of 1st. Lt. James R. Zimmerman last Thursday.
    Walking up to the funeral service that morning, fifth-grader Grace Desrosiers, a student at Greater Houlton Christian Academy where Zimmerman graduated said: “He popped into my class one day.” Linwood Smith, a Hodgdon resident, said he was attending out of respect and could empathize because he had almost lost his grandson in Iraq.
    Houlton resident Tammy Goetsch stood outside the proceedings with others holding flags “to make sure no one defamed him” since there had been the potential threat of protesters. Along with about 25 others, Goetsch said they formed a line on Willard St. to honor, respect and protect the family from any additional hurt.
    Vietnam-era veteran Paul Graham is president of the United Veterans Motorcycle Club of Houlton. He said he was there “to honor a fallen brother and support the family.” His group and the Patriot Guard were among others who offered security.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
PAYING THEIR RESPECTS — Residents stand in the pouring rain Nov. 9 near the Houlton Fire Department as the body of 1st. Lt. James R. Zimmerman arrived in town escorted by a motorcade that started in Island Falls.
    Prior to the funeral, a Marine Honor Guard had flanked the flag-draped casket during a photo montage. Images streamed onto a screen with various shots of Zimmerman at home, in the service, at leisure and even offering a ring as he proposed to his future wife Lynel.
    One shot also showed him with his fellow Marines hauling telephone poles. Zimmerman seemed to be the only one smiling. In the final shot, Zimmerman, in full dress uniform, showed off his keen features and set jaw. Perhaps, if one looked very closely, there was just the faintest trace of a smile that may have been more of an acknowledgment that he had achieved his life-long goal.
    For his service, for his gentle heart and for his good nature, area residents demonstrated their respect and admiration of his devotion to duty and  a good natured decency that spoke of a life well lived.