Hundreds pay respects to Marine

Mourner: Price ‘always at front of line to volunteer his services, help in any way he could’

By MARY KAYE DAVIS

mary.kaye@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — An estimated 1,200 people paid their respects to Marine Lance Cpl. Jonathan Kyle Price during calling hours Thursday night at Central Christian Church.

From representatives of the Marines to people who personally didn’t know the slain local hero, mourners waited for hours to pay tribute to Price, who was killed last Friday by gunfire in Ramadi, Iraq, while guarding Marine engineers.

His funeral was set for 1 p.m. today at Woodlawn Christian Church.

Don Collier of Hughey Funeral Home said a steady stream of mourners were at Central Christian Church all night. Calling hours ended about 9:30 p.m., five-and-a-half hours after they began, he said.

“The support has been amazing,” Collier said. “And that’s one of the things that has helped get the family through.”

City Councilman David Keen agreed.

“In talking to Mr. and Mrs. Hunsell last night, they both told me how appreciative they and the entire family are for the overwhelming support shown to this family by both the Woodlawn and Mt. Vernon community and all of Jefferson County,” Keen said.

Family friend Ron Riley said Price’s family is trying to remain strong.

"The family is appreciative of all the people who came out and wanted to shake hands and hug everyone who came in,” Riley said. “I think Cheryl, John, David, Crystal, Rachel, John and Brea are amazingly strong people to have stayed last night and to make sure that all who came to honor Kyle received their thanks.”

As the funeral procession makes its way to Knob Prairie Cemetery later today, it will pause briefly in front of Price’s home, Collier said. Representatives of organizations such as the American Legion, the National American Legion and the local Civil Air Patrol will be in front of the home displaying colors, and taps will be played.

Family friend Steve Johnson of Woodlawn described Price as a true American with high morals and dedication to God, family, friends and his country.

“Kyle was a model citizen, and even as a young boy, he displayed so much respect and was always at the front of the line to volunteer his services and to help in any way he could,” Johnson said. “It was that same caring and compassionate attitude that led him to volunteer for our armed forces to carry on his desire to help not only his family or his community, but rather this time he volunteered to help his country as a Marine in any way that he was asked.

“That is precisely what he did, and Kyle sacrificed his life for his country and for all of us this time for a cause that many still cannot and may never understand,” Johnson said. “But Kyle didn’t question the cause, he simply said ‘When and where do I need to be?’; very typical for this young man while very atypical for most.”

Johnson said Price had all the attributes of a hero.

“There is much to be learned by the life Kyle led both as a child and later as a young man, and there is much to be learned by the message he sent to everyone around him by his actions and lifestyle,” Johnson said. “And he did it all so quietly and with the manners and respect of a longtime seasoned and caring adult. He was so deservedly proud of his service to his country, and I know that anyone and everyone who knew him were just as proud of Kyle for that service and for so much more.”

Ernie Collins of Mt. Vernon said his and his family’s prayers are with Price’s family.

“The freedoms we all enjoy — freedoms we take for granted — are paid by our young men and women in uniform,” Collins said. “We are all in debt to Kyle Price.”

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