Marine Capt. Jesse Melton III sent an e-mail to his family and friends in July from his post in Afghanistan, where insurgents were launching near-daily attacks on his base.
“The enemy is very determined to let us see what they are capable of,” Melton wrote, describing rocket-propelled grenade attacks and hidden roadside bombs.
“But I take solace in Psalm 23,” Melton said in the e-mail, reciting the classic passage: “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil.”
As the e-mail was read aloud during Melton’s funeral service Wednesday at Colonial Baptist Church in Randallstown, the congregation clapped their hands, stood up and shouted.
Melton’s outspoken faith in God made him “peculiar,” but special, said his friends, family and fellow Marines.
“The things we can say about Jesse, we can say about Jesus,” said Robert Anderson, Colonial Baptist’s pastor, speaking of Melton sacrificing his life for his country.
“Everything Jesse did, he did for a higher authority.”
Melton, 29, and three other service members died this past week in the Afghan province of Parwan when a roadside bomb struck his vehicle.
Hundreds of people filled the church as several speakers reflected on Melton’s selflessness, devotion to his family and his deep Christian roots.
“I learned more about myself because of him,” said Marine Capt. Roberto Falcon, a friend of Melton’s.
“Because of his example, he always made me want to be a better son to my mother, and a better father to my child.”
Falcon struggled to keep from weeping, stopping at one point to say, “I’m sorry, but this hurts.”
During the service, a photograph montage played on the two large projection screens, flipping through photos from when Melton was a chubby little boy to when he stood proudly in his Marine uniform.
One of the last few photos was a picture of four rifles standing upright, each capped by a helmet.
Men and women with the Patriot Guard, armed with U.S. flags, and members of the Randallstown High School Junior ROTC program lined the church’s entrance as six Marines succinctly marched Melton’s flag-draped silver coffin to the hearse.
Melton’s body was laid to rest Wednesday afternoon at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
“He lived up to his word, and he made his family, friends and country proud,” said Army Capt. Jenine Melton, Melton’s younger sister, during the service.
She then turned and saluted her older brother’s coffin.
