Into the sunset

It is a cloudy, cool morning in Frederick, Maryland, where at this hour, thousands of hearts in the large suburban community are beating as one. Today, a favorite son is laid to rest. Beginning at sunrise, flags across the state were lowered to half-staff to honor a young man who dreamed of being a Marine since age three.

WRC-TV reports that Cpl. Kurt Shea grew up with pictures of his uncles, who served in the Marine Corps, on the wall of his bedroom. Even as he excelled as a championship wrestler at Frederick High School, he never lost sight of his ultimate goal: serving his country with quiet dignity and grace.

"The Unsung Hero Award was one of the last awards he had gotten before he graduated," [Future Farmers of America adviser Edward] Mayne said. "It was very typical of Kurt. he always did things behind the scenes. He always helped support everybody. And he was recognized for that."

According to a Defense Department news release, Shea, 21, was killed in combat on May 10 in Afghanistan's volatile Helmand province. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Chris Gordon's article said the radio operator died from gunshot wounds.

A Facebook group in tribute to Shea is full of moving posts from friends, relatives, and people who simply want to convey gratitude to the fallen Marine and his family.

"You made the ultimate sacrifice, greater love hath no man than he who lays down his life for a friend, and you did it for me, for my family who do not know you, how much greater was your love for us even though we've never met," Therese Ptak writes. "Thank you, Cpl. Kurt Shea, there is no other way I can repay your love but by telling you that it is deeply reciprocated."

Many describe Shea as a gentle volunteer warrior who had a deep respect for wildlife and agriculture. Nobody is more proud than his mother, Linda Shea.

"I encourage everybody everywhere to be supportive of our troops. They're out there. They believe in what they're doing. They're committed. They're serving their community. And unfortunately that's some of the risk that's involved, but I'm very proud of our military."

By order of Gov. Martin O'Malley, flags in Maryland will fly at half-staff until this evening. While the life of Cpl. Kurt Shea has reached its sunset, it is clear that his legacy will stand tall and shine bright for many years to come.