Gwinnett County soldier laid to rest

SNELLVILLE - American Flags lined the streets outside the Zoar United Methodist Church in Snellville Sunday.

Friends came to see a solider home. Many were friends Cpl. Jonathan Ayers never knew he had.

The 24-year-old soldier from Snellville was buried Sunday afternoon with full military honors. He was one of nine Americans killed fighting the Taliban forces in Afghanistan last week. It was the deadly attack on U.S. in the last three years.

"He was one of those honorable guys, always stand-up," family friend Henry Dead told WAGA-TV. "It’s hard to say what happened is a good thing, but he died honorably for our country."

The soldiers fired their guns 21 times. The bugler played Taps. The Victory Guard Riders cried, their tears hidden behind their sunglasses.

The service was a private one inside, but very public outside of the church. The songs and speeches played on the loud speaker for everyone that wanted to hear them.

"He became very special to me because he did something wonderful," Barbara Green said, speaking as if she knew the Shiloh High School graduate, even though the two have never met.

"Just had to come and let the family know I appreciate their son," she said. "He did something wonderful for all of us."

His body arrived home by airplane Saturday at Briscoe Field in Lawrenceville. Ayers gave his life, along with Cpl. Matthew B. Phillips, 27, from Jasper. Phillips had attended both Flowery Branch Elementary School and Johnson High School.

The other seven killed in that attack are 1st Lt. Jonathan P. Brostrom, 24, of Hawaii; Sgt. Israel Garcia, 24, of Long Beach, Calif.; Cpl. Jason M. Bogar, 25, of Seattle, Wash.; Cpl. Jason D. Hovater, 24, of Clinton, Tenn.; Cpl. Pruitt A. Rainey, 22, of Haw River, N.C.; Cpl. Gunnar W. Zwilling, 20, of Florissant, Mo. and Pfc. Sergio S. Abad, 21, of Morganfield, Ky.

Ayers was buried after the service at Eternal Hills Memory Gardens on Stone Mountain Highway.

Four well-wishers were treated for heat exhaustion. Gwinnett County authorities said two had to be taken to the hospital.

Still no word on when the funeral for Phillips will be held.