FUNERAL Soldier who was killed in Iraq is remembered for his bravery

A general presented the slain soldier's medals to his family.
CANTON (AP) -- Pfc. Jesse Buryj was remembered at his funeral Saturday for his life-saving bravery and friendly, caring personality.
Buryj, 21, of Canton, died May 5. He was credited with saving at least three lives when he fired more than 400 rounds at a dump truck trying to crash a checkpoint near Karbala, Iraq, the military and family members have said.
An Army sergeant said Buryj shot the driver of the truck, which then crashed into his humvee, said Peggy Buryj, the soldier's mother. He later died of injuries from the crash.
Buryj was with the 66th Military Police Company at Fort Lewis, Wash., and was one of 24 Ohioans who have been killed in Iraq.
"He is a soldier. He is too young to be gone," Gen. Dennis Moran told about 250 mourners inside Eleventh Street Church of God.
"As a military police officer, his first job was to serve and protect" fellow soldiers, Moran said. "He trusted his life to those soldiers as they trusted theirs to him."
Moran presented Buryj's family with his medals -- the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.
Matthew Beadoin, who was best man at Buryj's wedding, gave the eulogy and said Buryj was "the bravest person, friend and soldier" he's ever known.
The Canton McKinley High School graduate enlisted in the Army out of high school because he was too young to be a Canton police officer, which remained his career goal. Buryj married his high school sweetheart, Amber Tichenor, in October.
Show of support
Outside the church, people waited in the rain with flags and signs to show their support for Buryj's family. Among them were family and friends of Cpl. Andrew Brownfield, of nearby Akron, killed in Iraq on March 18.
"We're here to support this family," said Brownfield's mother, Melody Roop. "They're going through what we went through, and we're here for them."
A few minutes later, she and her family burst into tears when the song "You Raise Me Up" blared from the church's loudspeakers across the street. The same song was played at her son's funeral.