Mourners Pay Their Respects to Fallen Apex Soldier

Apex Mourners

More than 100 mourners lined the entrance of the Apex Funeral Home Thursday to honor a fallen soldier whose body was brought back to the Triangle.

A flag-draped coffin, escorted by police, carried the body of Lance Eakes, 25, from Raleigh-Durham International Airport.

A motorcycle convoy of Patriot Guard Riders of North Carolina and the Rolling Thunder followed behind, flags waving high in the air.

“(We came) to provide an honor escort for Sgt. Eakes and his family, to pay our respects and to thank them for the gift they’ve given this nation of giving up their son,” Patriot Guard Rider Michael Haluski said.

Eakes, a 2001 graduate of Apex High School, died April 18 in an explosion in Baghdad. Earlier this week, Eakes was posthumously promoted from specialist to sergeant.

He decided to join the military after the terrorist attacks on the United States in 2001, his family said. He wanted to serve his country, no matter the cost.

“He was scared over there," family friend Sue Smith said. "He told his momma and daddy he was scared, but he knew he was doing what he had to do,”.

Friends described Eakes as an outgoing, mischevious joker, who loved his family, had a big heart and believed in his faith.

His funeral is scheduled for Saturday at the Olive Chapel Cemetery in Apex.

Share:
Add to del.icio.us del.icio.us    Add to Digg Digg    Add to Google Google    Add to Yahoo! Yahoo!    Add to facebookfacebook   Add to StumbleUpon StumbleUpon    Add to Reddit Reddit

27 Comments


Golo

Welcome to GOLO, where WRAL.com visitors can comment on stories and create profile pages, blogs and photo galleries.

You must be a registered WRAL.com user to use these tools. Click here to register or log in.

View Comments View Comments

Ask Anything
  1. Carl Harris
    10 questions with Durham Schools Superintendent

    Superintendent Carl Harris answers your questions about the school system.

  2. Debra Morgan
    10 questions with WRAL Anchor Debra Morgan

    WRAL Anchor Debra Morgan answers your questions about TV news.

  3. Harry Dolan, Raleigh police chief candidate
    10 questions with Raleigh Police Chief Harry Dolan

    Raleigh's police chief answers your questions about officers' pay, panhandlers, violent crime ...

Multimedia
  1. WRAL-TV 'live' on mobile phone.
    Capitol Broadcasting unveils live, mobile TV

    Almost 12 years to the day that WRAL-TV went “live” as the first commercial high-definition station in the nation, parent company Capitol…

  2. The Amistad Saga
    The Amistad Saga: Reflections

    The 1839 mutiny about the slaveship Amistad is re-created in this outdoor drama, featuring music, dance and speeches. "The Amistad Saga:…

  3. Snoop 7/23
    Snoop Dogg, 311 rock Raleigh

    Snoop Dogg, 311 and Fiction Plane performed July 23, 2008 in Raleigh.

  4. Drought Map
    N.C. Drought Maps Time Lapse Animation

    View a time lapse animation of drought conditions since April of 2007.

  5. Tropical Weather Hurricane Dolly
    Hurricane Dolly slideshow

    Storm roughs up Rio Grande Valley on Texas-Mexico border.