By Tom Davidson
JAMESTOWN — There wasn’t a dry eye in town Friday afternoon.
A fire siren blared about 15 minutes before the hearse carrying Staff Sgt. David Michael Veverka’s body rolled under the Jamestown arch into the fallen soldier’s hometown.
Veverka, 25, was killed last Saturday in Iraq.
Quiet sobs and flags blowing in the rainy wind were the only sounds in town as hundreds lined the sidewalks as Sgt. Veverka took his final ride down Liberty Street and around the block past Jamestown High School before stopping outside Randall Funeral Home. The town was shut down for the procession and students were dismissed early from school so they could honor Sgt. Veverka.
Men removed their hats and children waved small flags and held banners lauding Sgt. Veverka. The solemn silence was broken by the toll of Jamestown Presbyterian’s church bell, then the sound of the footsteps of the honor guard carrying Sgt. Veverka’s casket from Scipio Street into the funeral home.
Soft wails from Sgt. Veverka’s mother, Carol Polley, followed as the family made their way into the funeral home.
Outside, people hugged and cried and comforted each other as the town mourned its first fallen soldier since the Vietnam era. Sgt. Veverka was the latest soldier with Mercer County ties to be killed in Iraq.
“It’s such a heartache for the community,” Mary Waters said. “It’s one of the saddest days Jamestown’s had.”
Mrs. Waters said she watched Sgt. Veverka grow up.
“He was just a wonderful person,” she said.
“It’s just heartbreaking,” said her husband Dan.
Their oldest son Scott served in Iraq and is working there for a private security firm.
Sally Demmler knew Sgt. Veverka as her granddaughter Kiley Demmler’s prom date.
Kiley Demmler named her son Jason David after Veverka in part, Sally Demmler said.
She was moved to tears when thinking about Sgt. Veverka’s death.
“How many more are going to come back like this, for what?” she asked. “He was such a promising young man.”
Sgt. Veverka had the makings of a bright future, she said.
“He had a chance to be a wonderful man,” she said. “I hope the best of him remains with the people who knew him.”
“It’s hard in a little town like this where everyone knows everyone,” she said.
Shirl Paxton works with Sgt. Veverka’s mom at the Stone Arch restaurant in Hempfield Township.
“He’s a hero,” Ms. Paxton said of Sgt. Veverka. “You can’t be from here and not know him. We all know he was where he wanted to be. His parents should be proud of him.”
Sgt. Veverka’s death came the day before the anniversary of the death of the first Mercer County serviceman in Iraq. Marine Sgt. Michael A. Marzano of Greenville was killed May 7, 2005. Army Reserve Pfc. Douglas Edward Kashmer, who had ties to Sharon and Reynolds, died June 8, 2005. Army National Guard Sgt. Shawn Graham was a Grove City native who died Sept. 25, 2005. Lt. Col. Michael E. McLaughlin of East Lackawannock Township, a National Guardsman, was killed Jan. 6.
Sgt. Veverka’s calling hours will be noon to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. Monday at Randall Funeral Home, 416 Liberty St. His Mass of Christian burial will be at 10:45 a.m. Wednesday in the chapel of Arlington (Va.) National Cemetery.
The David Veverka Memorial Fund has been established to honor him. Contributions can be made to the Jamestown branch of First National Bank of Pennsylvania.
