Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Dore, who grew up in neighboring Moscow, was 25 years old when he was killed July 8 by a suicide bomber in Baghdad. His death marked the third in the past month for a Maine soldier in Iraq.
Loved ones speaking Tuesday at Dore's funeral services depicted a man who harbored no doubts regarding America's purpose in Iraq.
His fiancée, Sophie Belanger, said Dore had made clear his thoughts on the Iraq mission in his entry on My Space.
"'Shut your mouths and let us protect America,'" Belanger read. "'Be proud. Show some support for your country and stop running us into the ground.'"
She said Dore went on to write that many at home do not have a true perspective of the war.
"'What the heck does Uncle Frank or Aunt Edna know about al-Qaida?'" Belanger quoted him as writing. "'What they see on CNN? The people want us home and I want to be home, but my job is not yet done.'"
Dore served with the U.S. Army's 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. He was killed just two weeks after signing up for another three-year hitch.
Crying, Belanger concluded with a message to the love of her life.
"I love you," she said.
Dore's cousin, Dustin Beane, also spoke of a focused man.
When Dore made his last visit home in May, he found time to write to Beane, Beane said.
"It's not a senseless war," he said. "Soldiers are fighting for those who don't have the same rights as us. That's not for nothing, in my eyes."
Beane said Dore was urging him to earn his high school equivalency diploma, take college courses and generally better himself.
"What a guy," Beane said. "He's over there getting shot at and he's worried about me over here. We always said we would take a bullet for each other. Well, he kept his promise."
Throughout the 90-minute funeral, Dore's mother, Gail Dore, rocked back and forth in her front-row chair. Her son, Logan French, Jason Dore's 15-year-old brother, and Dore's uncle, Brian Cates, tried to comfort her.
Nearby were Dore's grandparents, Clayton and Lucille McDonald, who sat quietly as speakers honored Dore.
Gov. John Baldacci attended, as did dozens of uniformed military personnel.
Dozens of spectators surrounded the tents that shaded Dore's coffin, with mourners were seated on either side.
To the rear, the Patriot Guard Riders -- a motorcycle group -- stood during the duration of the service with giant American flags raised.
The Rev. Douglas W. Drown of the First Congregational Church in Bingham quoted several poets and psalms, and followed with a prayer.
"Give your thanks for a life bravely lived -- a life given in sacrifice for our country," Drown said.
Logan French, clad in a white suit with black shirt and black hat, spoke briefly, reciting his brother's favorite Shakespeare quote.
"'A coward dies many deaths, but the valiant tastes death only once,'" French said.
Hundreds stood in the rain Sunday as a hearse carrying Dore's coffin made a 65-mile trip from the airport in Augusta.
Jason Dore's cousin, Brandon Pratt, stationed with the Air Force in Germany, accompanied Dore's remains back to Maine.
"Jason went out exactly as he would have wanted to," Pratt said. "A true American hero. Jason was my hero before he even left for basic training."
The hearse carrying Dore's coffin followed flag-toting motorcycles to the burial site at Robinson Cemetery in Moscow on Tuesday, followed by a reception at the American Legion Hall in Bingham.
Immediate family members sat on eight chairs in front of Dore's grave.
Earl Weigelt, an Army National Guard chaplain, provided words of comfort.
"Death is absurd," Weigelt said. "It doesn't make sense to us. Because, as you see, God made us for eternity. He created us in His own image."
Full military honors followed.
Soldiers removed the flag from the coffin, carefully folded it and presented it to Gail Dore.
Spectators, caressed by a warm wind that kept American flags fluttering, touched and kissed Dore's coffin in heartfelt farewells.
Larry Grard -- 474-9534, Ext. 343
lgrard@centralmaine.com
Reader comments
Sort by: Oldest first | Newest First
You must be a registered user of MaineToday.com to post a comment. Register or log in.