Fallen Marine Lance Cpl. Clore lay in state in the 'People's House' as his sacrifice is honored
“We go to all of these calling hours for any of the fallen heroes in our area, within about a two hour radius,” stated Rolling Thunder Chapter Two president and chaplain Harold Murray, who lost his own son, Sgt. Jeremy Murray, of the U.S. Marine Corps, in Iraq. “We always come in and do a prayer and salute for the individual. We want to make sure that their loved one will not be forgotten whatsoever, and how important it is that the family knows that they raised an American hero, a gentleman who was willing to stand up for his country and fight for many of our freedoms.”
Murray noted that there were approximately 18 Rolling Thunder members in attendance.
Clore’s casket lay in state inside the courthouse, resting on the second floor landing inside the rotunda, under the soaring painted dome. Visitors approached, often one at a time, climbing the stairs to pay their last respects. At times, an individual in military uniform or regalia would stand silently before the coffin of their fallen comrade, and then, ever so slowly, bring their hand to their forehead in a firm salute. A Marine Honor Guard was in attendance at all times around the flag-draped casket, and the guard changed each hour in precise, crisp movements.
“With this funeral service, there are slight variations that are different from other active military duty deaths, because Lance Cpl. Clore, like Cpl. Keith Nepsa, was killed at his post, dying in combat,” explained Brian Hanner, of Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home, which was handling funeral arrangements. “When that occurs, there are several different variations that the military exercises. Probably the most prominent one that people notice is that they are escorted from Dover Air Force Base back to Ohio, and are on a chartered plane. The other thing that you will typically see at their funerals are a general, or a high ranking military official, to present the family with any citations or promotions, or in the case of Lance Cpl. Clore, he is going to receive the Purple Heart. It has been placed on his chest, and the Purple Heart medallion is actually going to be awarded to his parents at the conclusion of the funeral mass.
“Hopefully, what we want to try and do is to mirror some of those same, subtle actions here locally,” continued Hanner. “In the case of someone killed in action, we approach the commissioners, who approach the court, and then are able to offer the family to come to the courthouse. Obviously, there are a lot of logistics that have to be worked out.
“This is the People’s House for the county. Judge O’Farrell reminded me of that this morning. He said, ‘This is the People’s House, and Lance Cpl. Clore was one of the people.’
“He died in one of the most noble ways any of us can imagine, defending our country, so it is right, fitting, and proper that the county open its doors.
“Many who are coming do not know him personally, but they are coming because they feel a need to express appreciation for what he has done. I actually met a couple from Warsaw, Ohio, who came without really having any connection to this Marine. They came to pay tribute. That is really why we host this today... this affords the community to come and say thanks to a patriot,” said Hanner.
Rolling Thunder president Murray concluded, “We are here to pay our respects and let him know we will always remember what he did for us.”